What's Happened to California??? (Brea, San Carlos: tree, businesses, rain)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

When we go back to visit, we typically only have time to visit people, rarely do we get to enjoy those destinations.

I think that's a great point to keep in mind. We. too, tend to think of people to visit and not much else. There were areas of the northern coast we simply loved that can't be replicated anywhere else and when we do come back we should decidedly plan time to spent in them because we miss them too.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I think that's a great point to keep in mind. We. too, tend to think of people to visit and not much else. There were areas of the northern coast we simply loved that can't be replicated anywhere else and when we do come back we should decidedly plan time to spent in them because we miss them too.

Not to mention the past two years we haven't had much time/money to spend on vacations, and the only vacations we've taken have been back to CA to visit family. I'd much rather spend those hard-to-come-by vacations in different places seeing different sights and enjoying different experiences. It's a tough trade off. When we move back we'll have more options.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

Not to mention the past two years we haven't had much time/money to spend on vacations, and the only vacations we've taken have been back to CA to visit family. I'd much rather spend those hard-to-come-by vacations in different places seeing different sights and enjoying different experiences. It's a tough trade off. When we move back we'll have more options.

It looks like my plans this summer fell through and if its true like all the locals are saying that after this hidious heat wave finally goes away we'll have a short fall and early winter, I'm not planning to go out until spring. But it was strange, reading through all the thoughts in this thread, because after two years here I realize that the reason I want to go out there is to see *people* and not places. As a matter of fact, the places I loved I'd rather just remember as they were. I'm sure they aren't the same anymore and it wouldn't be the same to me.

I want to take the money which would go to trips like that to spend on seeing more places here and starting new memories.

[impala666]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

Yes, you're correct, quite a few things here are different than in Africa.

Not as much as you seem to think an big chunk of London/Paris is owned by Nigerians.
Some of the biggest houses in Malibu are owned by guys from Equatorial Guinea and they are all legal residents by the way.
Africa is the place to invest for the long term and remember America was playing “Cowboys and Indians”just a few years ago.

The illegals are here for one reason and that is to do the work that most Americans wont or don't want to do.
If you support illegals or have them work for you you are feeding the fire for which all of us will eventually pay the price.
I am fortunate enough to employ quite a few people at the moment and hope to employ more in the future.
I have only two rules.
Can you do the job to the level that is required?
Are you legal or do you intend to become legal before I employ you?
If you support or fund illegals you are supporting a sub-culture of slavery.

Just as a postscript to this I will give you one current example.
I have spent the last three months trying to employ this guy who is a postdoctoral research fellow from one of the best university s in the world.
The Government has been making my life hell and on my own I would have given up before now,fortunately I am able to employ legal specialists to sort everything out.
While at the same time if you walk down Sunset and throw a stone in any direction you will hit an illegal.
And for the record I am a “legal alien”.

[Highnlite]

If you support or fund illegals you are supporting a sub-culture of slavery.

How?

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Highnlite

I am a bit surprised, the east slope of Colorado is not near as nice as it was, full of Californians I think.

That is what I have heard as well, but they were able to buy a newer home for much less than they paid for an old home in Santa Cruz. Her husbands commute is less than 10 minutes when it used to be more than an hour each way. Their children will be attending a brand new school that is supposed to be very nice (they have one in kindergarten already and things are going great). Their neighborhood is mostly young families like themselves so there are plenty of kids to play with in the neighborhood. They have the natural beauty surrounding Denver and they have drive to enjoy Boulder on the weekends if they want. Besides the winters and how dry it is there, I think they are going to be quite happy. This move improved their quality of life quite dramatically.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

... after two years here I realize that the reason I want to go out there is to see *people* and not places. As a matter of fact, the places I loved I'd rather just remember as they were. I'm sure they aren't the same anymore and it wouldn't be the same to me.

I want to take the money which would go to trips like that to spend on seeing more places here and starting new memories.

I guess we're lucky, most of the places we like and enjoy out in NorCal will likely not be much different than we remember, maybe a little more crowded. We did get a chance to visit Carmel last time we were out there and it was as beautiful as ever. I don't see the big redwoods, Tahoe, wine country, and the countless coastal regions changing much. Lucky for us most of the areas we like and enjoy are heavily protected by the environmentalists out there - I guess the tree huggers aren't so bad after all

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

That is what I have heard as well, but they were able to buy a newer home for much less than they paid for an old home in Santa Cruz. Her husbands commute is less than 10 minutes when it used to be more than an hour each way. Their children will be attending a brand new school that is supposed to be very nice (they have one in kindergarten already and things are going great). Their neighborhood is mostly young families like themselves so there are plenty of kids to play with in the neighborhood. They have the natural beauty surrounding Denver and they have drive to enjoy Boulder on the weekends if they want. Besides the winters and how dry it is there, I think they are going to be quite happy. This move improved their quality of life quite dramatically.

What you explained is similar to what we've noticed. You can find a number of nice areas with great schools out here that are quite affordable - extremely family oriented. If you can get past the snow and dryness (which many Californians have an issue with), you'll find that it's a great place to live, especially for former Californians. You will miss some of the cool things that CA has to offer, but overall, you'll likely enjoy day to day life out here. We have.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

I guess we're lucky, most of the places we like and enjoy out in NorCal will likely not be much different than we remember, maybe a little more crowded. We did get a chance to visit Carmel last time we were out there and it was as beautiful as ever. I don't see the big redwoods, Tahoe, wine country, and the countless coastal regions changing much. Lucky for us most of the areas we like and enjoy are heavily protected by the environmentalists out there - I guess the tree huggers aren't so bad after all

Wow, was that a compliment to tree huggers on city data?!?! We'll take it.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

I guess we're lucky, most of the places we like and enjoy out in NorCal will likely not be much different than we remember, maybe a little more crowded. We did get a chance to visit Carmel last time we were out there and it was as beautiful as ever. I don't see the big redwoods, Tahoe, wine country, and the countless coastal regions changing much. Lucky for us most of the areas we like and enjoy are heavily protected by the environmentalists out there - I guess the tree huggers aren't so bad after all

Oh Yeah? What good are they? They couldn't save my favorite South Seas-themed bar on Carmel's main drag from back in the 60s when I was training at Fort Ord! After all, it had fake palms!