St Augustine Florida was the first permanent in the US. However Florida is our 27th State and did not gain statehood until 1845. As for sunshine, everyday for at least a while.
Guns are only one freedom. Many more freedoms are gone or at risk, both here and there. Socialism doesn't work unless you are a member of the ruling class which allegedly doesn't exist anyway in a socialist state.
I love the Northwestern US too as a nice place to visit. My state, Alabama is a beautiful place with a nice balance of problems to benefits. I am an outdoorsman and Alabama is great for hiking, boating, hunting, fishing, camping, or justa about anything.
I had posted with Chris but did not know you were his widow until I just read your profile page. My heart and prayers are with you.
David
My dad's in Florida at the moment (sales conference, I believe). Thanks for the potted history.
As for Australia's faults, yes, it has them... but we're a young nation (103 last January) and I think a young nation is entitled to a few mistakes, provided its heart is in the right place (as I believe Australia's is).
Alabama is one of the states I didn't get to visit, or even pass through, during the time I lived in the US... Chris loved the outdoors too, and the two of us attempted to thruhike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada, only to drop out with injuries some 250 miles in. Still, I will always treasure those times in my mind, and I was struck by the similarities between the arid parts of Southern California that we hiked through, and some of the terrain I was familiar with in Australia.
FReeping keeps Chris alive for me, in a funny sort of way. He introduced me to this place, and was constantly alerting me to threads, but I didn't really start posting here until after his death. I still miss him terribly, but being an active member of his favourite forum helps me remember exactly how many lives he touched, even if only in an online sense.