I’ve considered the Golden State many times over the decades. When first graduating with my teaching degree in the 1980s, I interviewed with several California school systems. I even passed the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) to qualify.
Later, I married a man from San Francisco who made the move east to be with me. He nearly talked me into returning to the Bay Area with him, and then decided to go - alone. I came that close to living in Frisco (that’s passive aggressive for San Francisco – they hate it when you say Frisco – and while you’re there, ask them about their trolley cars – they hate it when you call the cable cars trolleys).
Probably best I didn’t go.
The past decade I’ve vacationed in San Diego once or more a year. Southern Cal is warmer and less densely packed than San Francisco, which has a somewhat Manhattan feel to it – including the provincialism and snobbery. I did time in Manhattan long ago. No need to repeat that miserable experience.
Historically, Colorado’s Front Range is a stop on the way west. Many young Boomers were on their way to California when their VW vans ran out of gas near Boulder and they ended up staying. Perhaps I’m gassed up again and ready to go.
I know what you’re thinking, but Denver has traffic and smog too.
Last month in San Diego, for some perhaps fortuitous reason, I ran into a lot of people who had lived in Colorado for many years. To a person, they loved California and had no regrets about relocating. When I asked about contending with traffic, high cost of living, and earthquakes, they replied that it was, and I quote, “Totally worth it.”
Regular readers will remember that in September, I considered a move to Chicago. Well, as the temperature dropped and relatively mild Denver began its annual six month chill, I realized that one winter in Chicago would kill me dead.
Now it looks like if I want to pursue them, some opportunities may soon arise on “the coast.” Even if those particular opportunities don’t materialize, I may just go find some more.
It’s also possible that as April arrives and the grass greens up, I’ll forget all about it – until November.
In the next BillsWeek, some pros and cons of picking up my middle aged ass and heading into the sunset.
Tim (my brother) moved to Southern California about 6 years ago. He does not hate it, but I think he would move back. He lives in Thousand Oaks, just north/west of L.A. He works in T.O. as well so does not ever go into L.A. Thousand Oaks is a really nice community, but (1) there is no weather. As much as the winter drags on without a spring snow storm there would be no days like today (Saturday eh 20th) - Warm, perfectly clear sky, clean white snow etc. Constant sunshine can get as old as the constant gray sky of a Nebraska winter. (2) you can't get good mexican food in SoCal. Don't ask me to explain this - most likely what we think of as Mexican food comes primarily from the east half of the country not Baja. But for me this is a serious problem. (3) SanDiego may be less crowed than San Fan, but there are still a LOT of people out there. It seems to me like you never get away from them. The houses are on top of each other, the parks are full. No hiking off by yourself for a day (SanDiego county has 3 million people, 500,000 more than Denver, Adams, Arapaho, Douglas and Jefferson combined.) It is the 6th most populous county in America.
ReplyDeleteBesides - even though we have only gotten together what two or three times since I've been back, I keep hoping we can have lunch or dinner again soon.
-Phil