My first impressions of San Diego.... (Rancho Santa Fe: credit, housing, wealthy)

[carlos123]

Yeah...I thought about it once or twice way back when I was a Catholic and not even a Christian (not that a Catholic absolutely cannot be a Christian mind you...but unfortunately most are not). If you want to know the details feel free to PM me .

Carlos

[Encinitan]

(not that a Catholic absolutely cannot be a Christian mind you...but unfortunately most are not).

So it's Carlos the philosopher, cultural demographist, and now religious theologian. Oh, and window washer, too, don't forget about that. What a joke.

[Axeslinger754]

Honestly Carlos, I love your posts and am glad your not offended. Although I am not religious, the comment was more or less a test to see how people would respond. Keep up your writing, and best of luck. Maybe i'll see you there in the fall of 09, when I start school.

[mayhurst]

Carlos123...
Thanks for sharing two not often heard themes...gratitude for the blessings each day and the faith that God will provide if you try to help yourself. I don't find references to your faith disingenuous or offensive; they seem to be a natural part of you. Unfortunately, faith (at least in God) has become "politcally incorrect" to some; it seems that there is increasingly more tolerance of expression of other religions in the DC area (where I live) than of Christianity. I have enjoyed reading about your totally non-judgmental observations of San Diego, as we are considering a move to either there or Raleigh, NC. I hope that wherever I end up with my family we meet many people with your outlook, work ethic, and optimism. Keep posting about your observations of San Diego, I'm finding them helpful.

[f_m]

Originally Posted by carlos123

Yeah...I thought about it once or twice way back when I was a Catholic and not even a Christian (not that a Catholic absolutely cannot be a Christian mind you...but unfortunately most are not). If you want to know the details feel free to PM me .

Carlos

You might find it kind of interesting that San Diego has two big crosses mounted up high in the area. Mount Soledad and Mount Helix both have them at the top. You can find out about them on the web.

[carlos123]

The owner of the trailer I am renting graciously offered to take me to La Jolla today and show me around. I had been talking to him about the kinds of houses I used to do in Edmonton, window cleaning wise, and saying that I had not really found any houses like that here...yet (except maybe a few that I had seen in passing in Carlsbad on the way to Oceanside).

Well...did I ever stand corrected. WOW!

We went through some absolutely gorgeous, I mean gorgeous neighborhoods! And I saw one neighborhood that finally...at long last after almost two weeks of hoping and looking around on my own, has decent windows on the houses. Windows of a type that I can make a decent profit from that don't have all the criss crossing trim, grates, or otherwise on them.

The multi-million dollar homes are still a bit tough for me to get to since most of them are gated such that I can't introduce myself at the front door .

But...wow! Beautiful homes! Not a dilapidated one among them!

Virtually hidden up a hill slightly beyond the bus line, but definitely within walking distance of bus stops (I think).

He then took me up Mount Soledad. Wow! Beautiful. What a view!

Mind you...I have seen some views that were ten times better in my lifetime (one such being Idaho Peak in British Columbia from which one can supposedly see Idaho from Canada on a clear day. The top of the peak is also absolutely full of wild flowers at certain times of the year and it is breathtaking to behold) but Mount Soledad is the best I have seen here yet. And today, the "fog" or maybe "smog" that obscures the view was more or less blown away by the breezes. I could even see some snow on top of some mountains way off in the distance. About 130 miles away according to my "tour" guide.

I will definitely go back up to Mount Soledad to just take in the view at my leisure when I get around to getting a vehicle.

One thing that surprised me...in an area that supposedly has something like 2.5 million people...and on a Sunday...was the relative lack of people there. Seeing a lot of people admiring the view on such a beautiful day might have been more in line with what one might have expected in such a big metropolitan area. But, there weren't that many people there...which to me was rather surprising.

Beautiful area by the something tennis club. Absolutely beautiful. The people who live there are very fortunate, from the standpoint of this life, to live there.

Of course...my heavenly mansion will surpass anything I saw today but still...the homes were nevertheless beautiful!

Just thought I would add that better view to my other, less than flattering views of San Diego.

Carlos

[Macrina]

Carlos, have you made it a practice to look for upscale retirement communities or areas? Seems like folks in that demographic would have the need, desire and ability to hire you.

An elderly cousin of my mother used to live in one of these areas in Oceanside; I visited her there a few years ago and felt her neighborhood was quite nice. I'm trying to remember the area, but can't find her old address when she lived there. I kind of think the bus lines ran close by. I'll send you a DM if I can figure out the area.

Is it in your plan to get a vehicle when you get more established? Seems like this would increase your money-making possibilities greatly.

[carlos123]

Originally Posted by Encinitan

So it's Carlos the philosopher, cultural demographist, and now religious theologian. Oh, and window washer, too, don't forget about that. What a joke.

What I am pales in comparison to what Jesus Christ was. In many respects He wore more hats than I do and had even less, materially speaking, than I have had in life. I do hope that however much you think I am a joke...that you at least do not consider Him a joke as well and that instead you take time to think seriously about who He was and what He came to do for us all.

Carlos

[carlos123]

Originally Posted by Macrina

Carlos, have you made it a practice to look for upscale retirement communities or areas? Seems like folks in that demographic would have the need, desire and ability to hire you.

It's been my experience that such communities can indeed be lucrative and that I can offer them something they are in need of at a fair or even discounted price. One nice thing about such folks is that I end up getting lots of referrals which end up being very profitable for me...if the actual retiree's home is not as profitable itself.

Unfortunately I have not found such enclaves...yet. There were some really, I mean really, nice enclaves of such folks in Edmonton. I will miss many of those customers. Not their money for I will now, God willing, make that here...but rather the rappor that I came to have with many of them in Edmonton.

An elderly cousin of my mother used to live in one of these areas in Oceanside; I visited her there a few years ago and felt her neighborhood was quite nice. I'm trying to remember the area, but can't find her old address when she lived there. I kind of think the bus lines ran close by. I'll send you a DM if I can figure out the area.

Thanks Macrina. That would be appreciated. Oceanside is a bit far but if I can find such a community that is not gated and where I can go up to the front door and introduce myself...it's worth going to Oceanside for.

Is it in your plan to get a vehicle when you get more established? Seems like this would increase your money-making possibilities greatly.

Absolutely that is my plan. I hope to actually finish up my customer database from Edmonton and sell the list of customers to someone up there who has shown some interest in that in years past when I indicated a desire to move South (I had been indicating such and hoping for such for years before I finally made the move this year). If my list of customers from up North sells...I will likely use whatever money I make from such a sale to get a decent truck down here.

Which as you say...will greatly increase my money-making potential.

Carlos

[Macrina]

Where Jean lived in Oceanside was definitely not gated, that I remember, for certain.

I'll work on pulling out more details from what passes for my brain....