Returned to Chula Vista and Now Need Google Maps (San Diego: amusement park, condos)

[nmguy]

I grew up in Chula Vista, near CV High School, from 1955-62. Moved away to get an education, raise a family, and do the career thing for the next 55 years. Last month, I returned and bought a house in the Eastlake area. To my astonishment, I need to use Google Maps whenever I want go go somewhere nearby.

It's an odd feeling: I'm well acquainted with the land --used to ride my bike in these hills-- but feel like a tourist whenever I set out for places that I've never visited before.

After a while, I'll adapt. But, for the moment, I'm living proof that you can't go entirely home again. Has anyone else experienced this phenomena?

[echo42]

Learn the main drags first:

Bonita Rd/E Street
H/East H
Telegraph/Otay Lakes
Olympic/ Orange

Each one, notionally, will take you from one side of Chula Vista to the other. East to west that is. Everything east of 805 is new planned developments and everything west is old Chula Vista and pretty much on a grid system.

[futbol]

Originally Posted by nmguy

I grew up in Chula Vista, near CV High School, from 1955-62. Moved away to get an education, raise a family, and do the career thing for the next 55 years. Last month, I returned and bought a house in the Eastlake area. To my astonishment, I need to use Google Maps whenever I want go go somewhere nearby.

It's an odd feeling: I'm well acquainted with the land --used to ride my bike in these hills-- but feel like a tourist whenever I set out for places that I've never visited before.

After a while, I'll adapt. But, for the moment, I'm living proof that you can't go entirely home again. Has anyone else experienced this phenomena?

About 19 years ago I used to go running through 4S Ranch. It was a real ranch back then. I could run for miles without seeing anyone. There were just cows, strawberry fields, rattle snakes, falcons, and coyotes.

Today even most of the landscape in 4S is unrecognizable. Before they built the nice neighborhoods they altered the landscape to remove hills and fill valleys.

I think in the old days they would make the neighborhood fit the landscape. It is the other way around now.

So yes, I know how you feel... although it is probably more dramatic for you as you grew up there.

[nmguy]

Fútbol,

You accurately describe my situation: the hills are familiar, but not the streets. There are so many mini shopping centers that I can't remember which one has the bank, which one has the inexpensive Chinese restaurant, or which one has the Shell station. During my first week here, I thought I was headed for Home Depot, but ended up at Lowe's (after shopping at Home Depot a few days earlier).

My house looks either exactly like or similar to every house on the block. Grocery store parking lots are generally ¾ filled on week days and close to completely filled on weekends. Intersections take a long time to cycle through all the drivers.

OTH, yesterday's high temp was 78, where my former neighbors in NM were experiencing their first 100-degree day.

Sorry for the rant. Just having a little trouble adapting from a semi-rural area (no street lights or stop lights) to San Diego County's second largest city (which had 18,000 residents when I left).

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by nmguy

I grew up in Chula Vista, near CV High School, from 1955-62. Moved away to get an education, raise a family, and do the career thing for the next 55 years. Last month, I returned and bought a house in the Eastlake area. To my astonishment, I need to use Google Maps whenever I want go go somewhere nearby.

It's an odd feeling: I'm well acquainted with the land --used to ride my bike in these hills-- but feel like a tourist whenever I set out for places that I've never visited before.

After a while, I'll adapt. But, for the moment, I'm living proof that you can't go entirely home again. Has anyone else experienced this phenomena?

oh yes, but in my hometown in Illinois. I know its a very sad feeling sometimes. Worst for me is my elementary and middle school was demolished and is now gated up land, the trees are still there and the hill, and the road which somehow makes it sadder, like you can see your memories in the trees but the whole thing is gone, even the historical part which I can't believe no one worked to save.

It's now surrounded by grocery stores and big box stores like home depot, a commercial intersection now....it was open fields when I was growing up 20-30 years ago....which doesn't seem so long ago at all. The amusement park where we skiied and swam and I lifeguarded is also gone and is now condos.

My parents neighborhood, which was also mine is now looking more lower income than middle class, somewhat ragged looking. And suddenly casino gaming is now allowed there so there are slot machines and things in bars and restaurants which to me is just mind boggling.

Other things are the same but yeah....it's a very weird feeling, and it really happens in most places that are near enough to a metro. My area was 50 miles out of Chicago and was a more far flung suburb back then, not far enough now to escape "modernization" so sad they haven't learned how to preserve the good things and condos and big box stores call the shots.

[bigdaddy5]

The area south of the Otay Ranch Marketplace and Olympian High School is in constant flux. So many new homes and streets.

If the commute wouldn't be so bad, I'd seriously consider moving to this area. Especially, the Proctor Valley area and east of the 125 toll fwy.