wherin the distressed passengers finally get to me

[bainsidhe]

HAHAHAHA. Nice update. Please let us know if anything further develops...or if mummy calls. Ha.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

A better question is: Why would anyone voluntarily live in California?

Earthquakes and wildfires, and the places in California where I'd want to live are so far above my pay grade it isn't funny.

I've not been in much of California--only from say Bakersfield to Yosemite National Park on a vacation a few years ago--but what I saw wasn't anything special.

[Mark Healey]

A better question is: Why would anyone voluntarily live in California?

The U.S.s top two exports are centered in California, Entertainment from L.A and Tech from San Jose.

Ten of the top 50 U.S. Universities are in California (That's actually an old figure. It might have gone up or down by one or two.).

Insanely high agricultural production.

Pretty good weather.

The downsides are:
We pay for it
Public education sucks. We don't produce enough qualified candidates for the universities.
We will be in a desperate water situation soon
Brushfires all the damn time
Too many hippies

[Ironclad Alibi]

The downsides are:

The ground moves way too much.

[BethB]

What's wrong with Wyoming? I lives in cowboy land!

But mamma's boy there? Loser!

[Food Lady]

A better question is: Why would anyone voluntarily live in California?

Word.

And I'm an ex-Californian. Here's what I don't miss:

--smog

--gangs

--crowded schools

--graffiti everywhere

--empty fields full of trash

--police helicopters over my neighborhood

--having to compete with illegals for a min. wage job

--$750 to $1000 for a 1-bed apt

--mountain lions, coyotes, rattlesnakes

[TravisRB69]

Better Wyoming than western Montana. There are so many rich Californians there buying up land that they're only there to occupy less than half the year and when they ARE there are complete self-entitled snobs that expect to get away with everything they'd get away with in California, that western Montana basically IS California.

[PhotoChick]

all i have to say is i would love to pay only $750 for a 1 bedroom

[hobbitt97]

Reasons to live in California:

Climate: Damn near perfect.

Plants: As long as you don't have many allergies, all the blooming plants. My favorites are the jacaranda trees. Clouds of purple flowers, all over the Southland--GORGEOUS.

Culture: Since moving out here I've learned to love Indian, Ethiopian, and Thai food, as well as Mongolian BBQ. The farmer's market near my house has booths for home-made Mexican, Asian, and Greek foods. Our favorite gathering place is the local British-style pub. One of my favorite cafes has a hookah bar, and the opera is a 30 minute drive, with $10 seats.

Landscape: My friends and I have found numerous parks within 30 minutes of our houses, as well as a lovely wildlife sanctuary. The rolling hills are lovely even in a drought, and the beach is only 30 minutes away.

and I thought it was the almost legal marijuana

[Mordecai]

and I thought it was the almost legal marijuana

Well, that goes without saying.

[Rapscallion]

I would personally give my left tit to be able to live in California!

I've been on forums where they'd take you up on that offer.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

I've been on forums where they'd take you up on that offer.

Rapscallion

Were you a mod on them too? <ducks>

[BookstoreEscapee]

all i have to say is i would love to pay only $750 for a 1 bedroom

Seriously. You won't find that in Jersey...

[Pagan]

a university system that has international renown,

Well, Nevada's got that, too....just not in a good way.

Reasons to live in California:
Climate:
Plants:
Culture:
Landscape:

We've got that here. Well, except that the Opera is just outside of Santa Fe (but it's not much of a drive from ABQ either) and the closest we can get to beach front is Elephant Butte.

Earthquakes and wildfires, and the places in California where I'd want to live are so far above my pay grade it isn't funny.

And we've got these, too.

--having to compete with illegals for a min. wage job

--mountain lions, coyotes, rattlesnakes

Check, check, check, check, plus two bears in Rio Rancho today.

all i have to say is i would love to pay only $750 for a 1 bedroom

Heh, I only pay $590. I'd tell you how big, but I'm afraid that you might hunt me down and hurt me.

[Megg]

Why to live in California? As someone coming off a 5 year stint in Idaho, I got one word for you:

SNOW! I hate, despise, revile it! #1 reason we came back to Cali was no snow. Really, though, you have to have good cash flow to enjoy living in California. Beach house next year, baybay!

Oh yeah, one other reason:

The local produce. Nuff said.