Posted on 04/04/2005 3:41:35 PM PDT by Allen In Texas Hill Country
Now that I got all the receipts put in the computer I can start my piece.
Since moving here in '72 I could say that I've seen a lot more of California than most. Not all but most. I've flown the coast from San Diego to Oregon from 10 feet to 500 more than once. I've shown tourists the caves on the Pacific side of Santa Cruz Island. Seen the skiers at Mountain High and Mammoth from a 100 feet and the nude sunbathers at Blacks beach and Santa Barbara beach. Flown Owens Valley with the White mountains on the east side and beautiful Mt. Whitney on the west. Been up into San Joaquin Valley to see old friends or pick up some grapes.
I've only driven as far north as Sonoma. Will not comment about San Francisco but drove route 1 whenever I had the chance to see Big Sur. And of course I've been to Yosemite. I can unconditionally say that if anybody has a chance to see Yosemite do so. It is wondrously beautiful. And that is part of what this piece is about, the beauty of California. I would speculate that California has more, way more than its share of beauty.
But over the last 10 years, give or take, that beauty has become very shallow. It is now only skin deep and the smell of decay has started. I might have used a three letter word that starts with 'r' and ends with 't' but will save it for now. This state is in big trouble.
Maybe it did or did not start with illegal immigration but its killing California. From the schools to the hospitals that are closing to the huge burden they are placing on the general infrastructure illegal aliens are having a hugely negative impact on this states well being. More than not while driving thru a fast food I have to park the car and go inside to get exactly what I ordered. And it goes on and on. The hospital emergency rooms. I cannot describe what I have seen and read about without a stream of foul language. So here #$%@#$%&^&*$^&*%(%&*(^&(*.
Then there is the fiscal nightmare. On the one hand the citizens voted in prop 13 and saved the homes of many retirees. But then they turned around and voted prop 80 (or something) that guaranteed, GUARANTEED that some 60% of the budget will be spent on schools. Maybe it was more. In any case it puts a BIG crimp in flexibility in spending cutbacks. Currently, the state has a built in 10% deficit spending. And without changes it get worse. On top of that there are the public pension benefits. And welfare. As an example from being non-existent 10 years ago to today one program is costing nearly 500 million dollars. It's in home care. Know why???? The care providers went union. Union, union UNION. In 20 to 30 years a public union pension can get 90% of their pay. Are you kidding me?
And now I can use the word ROT! The legislature. They are a mixture of Cuba's communist, Mexico's ruthlessness and could care less about America. More that one member belongs to a group whose sole purpose is to unite California with Mexico. I cannot describe the legislation that came out from that rat hole during Davis's years. It has been a catastrophe.
As we approach retirement we looked at a mobile home park a few miles from where we now live. Keep our friends, our doctors and all the feelings of known territory. And most of all keep the weather.
Even tho the beauty is only skin deep the weather is bone comforting. Why would anybody give up this weather? This weather is the only real thing that may have affected our decision making. I cannot overstate the weather but in the end I still had to file all those receipts I mentioned at the beginning.
We just got back from buying a lot in a small town in the hill country northwest of San Antonio Texas.
Welcome to the Texas Hill Country.
We now live in Texas and enjoy over $7,500 less state taxes!
Also looking at the Texas hill country and a rural setting.
I understand your feelings all too well, Allen. I have lived all over the country and now that I am in San Diego, I don't know what to do. On the one hand, we love the climate and the natural beauty and the ability to go for a jog or a bike ride any day of the year. The weather here is better than it was even when we lived in Hawaii, because there is less heat, humidity and bugs. But the state is a total disaster, and other than close friends and work buddies, the people here seem cold and shallow. It is time for us to settle down but I am leaning towards a weather compromise just to be back around some normalcy. My husband wants to stay.
It's a tough call. I guess we could consider ourselves blessed to have so many locales to choose from here in the U.S.A. But it is a shame that California is in such a bad state. I can't imagine it getting better, maybe just not any worse.
LOL - nice hook at the end!
A happy ending, at least so far. But why Texas, if you don't mind my asking? I like the firearms laws there, but once again too many illegals. But, that's why I live up here: No income taxes except for Federal, sales taxes aren't too bad, and for the most part the various levels of governance manage to stay out of a person's way. Nothing poisonous flora or fauna, mild weather (no snow), and the liberals understand that it is in their best interests to maintain some form of detente in order to avoid being ventilated.
Yup, if we could only ship off the liberals/commies to some gulag this area would be perfect.
And Texas will be blessed by your move. But I must tell you that San Antonio is Norte Mexico City. You aren't getting away from illegals moving there.
I noticed as a Texan living and going to grad school in California a very strong attitude. And I'm currently in Riverside, CA on a visit to help my relatives, and nothing's changed about that attitude.
I told my Texas relatives years ago that the Californian students I met were determined to be 'nonjudgmental" no matter what. My impression was that you could axe-murder their own mothers and they could try to rationalize and not judge you for it.
The beautiful Eloi are eating from their fruit trees, sunning themselves, and not seeing that their paradise can't last forever.
A happy ending, at least so far. But why Texas, if you don't mind my asking?
____________________________________________________________
A bit of family, a LOT of space, a view forever, a starry night, dead silence when I turn off the TV and finally of course the financial aspects. We could afford to move over to the retirement community here and even tho we checked it out there was really never any desire to stay even after more than 30 years.
To be honest, we lived our first 15 years in Santa Barbara and if the plant had not closed and we were still there I might be singing a different tune. But the politics of this state do weigh heavily.
Just had a sister and brother-in-law who recently cashed out in El Cajon (San Diego County) and moved to Seguin, Texas (the hill country). They love it and are debt free. Other members of the family are about to do the same.
I loved Santa Barbara, the view on the way to Cold Springs Tavern was awsome, but it would get old.
Spent a few months in 29 palms, went to LA, Palm Springs, drove from SB to Fresno once, that was cool
I still like New England for the full 4 seasons, but the politics are awful.
My new job should work out, so, I still wont be moving, but at least I am now making enough money to stabilize and actually get ahead once this job falls in place
Allen, I understand your mixed emotions, completely. My brother's family lives in Folsom, and as much as I deeply miss them, I understand why they stay. In fact, we just got back from a week in the Ventura area, and it's beautiful. But a "starter home" runs in the low $500,000's. We make a healthy income here in the Phoenix area, but we could not even afford a 1400 sq. ft home in a low-income neighborhood in Ventura! That's kind of depressing! And yet, not really. We can always visit our favorite CA hangouts, come home, and have much to be thankful for.
Actually, I'm getting itchy feet to move myself. Wouldn't mind giving Texas a try.
Frederickburg, so far is the only place I like in Texas, actually I love that area.
We visited San Antonio a few weeks ago, which I HATED. UGH
Tyler, east of Dallas was ok and going through Ft Worth soon to the races, but it's too big of a city for me.
I liked the wide open spaces in Wyoming and would love to visit Montana.
This is wonderful news!!! Congrats, my friend!!!
California and Texas seem opposite - I hate CA politics but love its weather. Two questions about hill country northwest of San Antonio Texas:
1st question: How windy is it there?
2nd question: How humid is it there?
After a lifetime in CA for my husband and 50+ years for me, we got out and relocated to GA. We hated to leave the weather but decided we had to have something more than that holding us there. Of course, friends/family were hard to leave behind but the positives just didn’t outweigh the negatives for all the reasons you named.
Still miss the weather and the family/friends but it’s worked out well for us. Not sorry we made the move. Much easier today to keep in touch with friends/family than it was when I moved to CA from NY State in 1957. Phone calls home weren’t cheap so they were limited and the internet hadn’t been invented yet - LOL.
Isn’t it amazing? We’re probably all in touch more with old friends than we ever were 30-40 years ago. It was so easy to lose track of them. Pretty neat!!
Gosh, I didn’t know there were new entries to this old old thread. There is near a constant wind/breeze but we live on top of a hill. The humidity goes up and down but it is nothing like Houston or Corpus. Overall it is quite fine. The town, Kerrville, has become quite comfortable. With a Walmart, SS office and extensive medical facilities.
Allen
“the people here seem cold and shallow”
Mostly correct. Like out of the “Twilight Zone,” actually.
Lived out there. Was sent on business, too. Beautiful places.
Could not stay.
My understanding is the the biggest fear of a Texan is not a Hispanic with a knife, or a Black with a gun, but rather a Yankee with a U-Haul
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.