Sounds like somebody ain't embracing enough diversity!

I used to go to CA (mostly San Diego to LA, Oceanside beach) on vacations ('80's), but I began to realize that all I was seeing was unbearable traffic, wide expanses of concrete, huge power lines spoiling the vistas, and lots of transplanted people. I quit going there for vacations.

Then, I had a job project where I had to go to virtually every town from San Diego up to Simi Valley, to audit the telephone exchanges. It took about 4 months. The more time I spent there, the more I could see why people moved there. But the things that made it attractive were ruined by 2x or 3x as many people as it could sustain and still be a great place. I think that is the case with most places nowadays. PS, I was on an expense account, so the brutal costs weren't an issue for me. And they were brutal.

There's a similar thread, tho more limited to a region, on the Garage Journal. It's interesting that for every place suggested as a paradise, someone who actually lives there pops up to say what a horrid place it is to live. There is no paradise.

There definitely is a lot of issues with a lot of places. I have some greater or lesser degree of issues with every one of the places on my list. Not being stern or grumpy here, but do please remember not to attack anything/anyone/anyplace/anything said (same caveat as post #1 - you can grump about where you yourself live).... Just want to make sure the thread keeps the right tone ya know :)

I booked a vacation to Cabo San Lucas for Nov, and a vacation for Austin in Dec, and a vacation to Puerta Vallarta for March. (Gov employees get absolutely horrible health care now, worse than private sector, but the bonus is we now get tons of sick and vaca time).


My family project is going to be a "do everything you can before it freezes", and then "come out/move there in spring and work all spring/summer". So that little new obligation pretty much killed my "move before the snow flies" goal (along with the fact that it has already snowed here in the midlands of CO, and I had to scrape my windows this morning).

I wont declare this thread dead, but as far as super fast right now active input, everything in my life is on hold right now due to family. Even single without kids somehow family still holds a lot of sway.

I'm as cantankerous as the next guy about certain races - but I'll go one further: I have an issue with a good chunk of my own race too :) Is that anti-social enough for ya?

I don't care what race they are, I'm fed up with people texting and talking on their phones!!:-arrgh When I see somebody weaving or driving too slow, I pull along side them and check for the phone. Some are just old and feeble, not even able to see over the steering wheel.:( But most are young and just being selfish by chatting or texting on the phone. :-arrgh I have no problem hitting my horn until they put down the phone and drive like an adult. My horn consists of three 1960s era Ford horns, one of which is a 12" bugle type. All tree together sound like a train horn!:D I like it a lot. :-jamming When I have to employ my train horn, I call it training! Unfortunately, there are way too many people in CA that need more training.;) Jag

Yup, pretty much quit driving my motorcycle because people are clearly getting more stupid, not less. Texting, watching movies, downloading porn and I don't know what all, when supposed to be driving. Started collecting dust in the garage, and fairly expensive to insure so I traded it in when bought my Ranger. Getting hit in a truck isn't always a big deal, but it's always a bad deal on a scooter.

Hey Bryan,
94 degrees here today. What were you scraping off the windshield this morning? You can leave that scraper thing in Colorado for your December Austin trip - maybe Jan/Feb. if you are unlucky.


If they forecast snow/ice within 100's of miles - there will be nothing left in the grocery stores. You never want to drive here when we get our dusting of snow - trust me just work from home - you wouldn't believe it.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1