California...

[Jennifer5]

It's just one of those weird places that it seems like everyone has either been to or lived in... so I'm jsut curious to see, "Have you ever been to CA?"...

[Pablo Rafael]

I loved living in California. I lived in inner-city Los Angeles (Hollywood area). It is a place where people are accepted no matter what their background or view on life. Hollywood is a place where there is never a dull moment. Always something strange and interesting happening. I lived just a few blocks fron Griffith Park. The weather is great. Mountain biking is wonderful. Traffic is terrible and housing expensive.

You're starting to make me homesick for California now.

Pablo

[BenL]

Visited family and friends on numerous occasions. Never felt that I wanted to live there.

[Vanessa White]

Visited my older brother there, San Francisco area, in the 90's when he was living there. Was a visit that was difficult for many reasons, but the scenery was beautiful. Never wanted to live there either.

[Daniel]

My husband Jonathan grew up in North County San Diego- Cardiff by the Sea- actually. We've gone out to visit family many times: love the morning light, the weather and, or course, the beach.

One memorable day was perhaps our second day there: we took a walk on the beach in the morning and then drove up to Palomar mountain. And while it was 70% on the coast, when we got the the top of the mountain snow was coming down hard and a foot already on the ground. The proprietor of the lodge we stopped at briefly came running out to the car yelling at the top of his voice, a half-crazed look on his face- right out of The Shining. "Have you seen them? Have you seen them?" He meant his dogs, of course, which had gotten out somehow. He took off, and we went into the lodge where we were we greeted by a lady from Chicago who was afraid to leave because of the snow. :rolleyes: Isn't that the land of 'weather'? Anyway. We drove of the back of the mountain- snow gone in a hundred feet- and descended to the desert where it was 80% and the cactus blooming.

Drove back to Cardiff through avocado and orange groves on twisting roads with no guard rails and curious goupings of crosses at tight corners where unfortunate souls had plunged over the side in the dark night.

Stopped at the town of Julian and had fresh backed apple pie and tea.

What a day! I love California, though I regret to say that we have never been to San Francisco. Our next visit to the West Coast, we plan to visit that fair city and then drive down the coast, stopping at Hearst's Castle and other places along the way.

[paul]

I grew up in L.A. Canoga Park to be exact (valley boi ;)).

I also lived in northern California at Lake Shasta.

California is a beautiful place. As a kid, we'd go camping at Yosemite every year. Swim in the Merced river, sleep in tents and feed the bears :eek: (stupid tourists :lol:). The Redwood forests are amazing and the coastline of California is like another world. The state is 800 miles plus long, so N. CA is very different from S. CA. The air in LA is to dirty, and the traffic, well, it's a perpetual parking lot. Housing is ridiculous. A 1000 sq.ft house will go for 500 to 700k depending on location. As a kid, I would take the front wheel off of my ten speed bike, throw it into the back of my VW bug and drive to Venice beach to man watch or I'd hop in my car at mid-night and go see a movie in Hollywood. I always thought the city is in my blood, but now I am an organic farmer living in the Virginia Piedmont. More recently, my nature is balanced and I could live rural or city (anywhere but the suburbs) and be happy. California can boast having a lot.

[tpdncr4christ]

I've loved it here all my life, and never really been able to think about living somewhere different. I can wear sandals everywhere I go, at anytime of the year, I can go surfing in the morning, then snowboarding in the after noon, and then to see some new block buster movie at night, and I have many times, and I can also get away with being myself cause everyone here is so judgmental it's ok to be yourself.

[Alecto]

Not yet...

[Zerbie]

If I strike it rich, I would love to try living in San Francisco. Seems rather like the atmosphere there would fit me. Plus, it's *pretty.* :p

[Jennifer5]

I love California!! (although, it might only be equal to WA :))

I was born in San Francisco.
Then lived in Forest Ranch for the first 1.5(?) years of my life. (so naturally, I don't really remember that one).

In 2nd grade we moved back to CA, where we lived in Berkeley for 2.5-almost 3 years.
Then we moved to Manteca CA, where my dad said we would be for the next 10+ years (when we took the job)... but the house was on the market in a year, and after 18 months we were here in WA.

My grandparents live in Half Moon Bay and there's a very good chance that that's where my mom sister and I will be in a few more years.


CA has a lot to offer!

[pnggrad79]

My wife and I have been there several times. My homophobic sister used to live near Escondido when her husband was stationed at Miramar. She hated it because it was so liberal according to her. I loved the weather, the atmosphere, the beach, and yes, the liberalness. I wish they would throw Arnie into the Pacific and get gay marriage legalized like the public wants. OBVIOUSLY!!!!!

[tdogg]

Ok, born, raised and lived here all my life. Sure, it's expensive. Sure, we have a TON o' traffic (who doesn't?). And, we tend to have celebrity elected officials (where else?).

CA has it all - from ocean waves pounding atop sandy bluffs, to the highest peak within the US continental borders, to the lowest spot, beautiful snow capped mountains, lovely grass green meadows. If not the largest variety of birdlife, one of the top 2 or 3 in the country. Wild animals roaming the hills, miles from city skyscrapers. The most gorgeous bridge (Golden Gate, arguably), ribbons of highway, miles of high mountain trails. Several gay meccas on top of all that!

If you go to SF, have some raw oysters at the Anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro!

Gosh, we even have a semi-decent public transportation system!

I love this state!!! :love:

[Jennifer5]

CA has it all - from ocean waves pounding atop sandy bluffs, to the highest peak within the US continental borders, to the lowest spot, beautiful snow capped mountains, lovely grass green meadows. If not the largest variety of birdlife, one of the top 2 or 3 in the country. Wild animals roaming the hills, miles from city skyscrapers. The most gorgeous bridge (Golden Gate, arguably), ribbons of highway, miles of high mountain trails. Several gay meccas on top of all that!
:mad: You'd be nothing without WA, Starbucks Coffee & Microsoft & Boeing!
...alright, so you'd still be something, but CA would be missing out on a lot wihtout WA!

:lol:...sorry, you're born and raised in CA, but I was raised on the west coast, had to defend my home!

[BruceChris]

I would suggest California Lite, i.e, Madison Wisconsin. The weather and the scenery may not be quite the same, but the basic air of you-can-be-absolutely-any-kind-of-crazy-person-that-you-want, and be accepted, as long as you are not a threat has a very nice feel to it. The fact that bicycle shop owners outrank bankers socially doesn't hurt either.

Namaste', Bruce Chris

[Jennifer5]

I would suggest California Lite, i.e, Madison Wisconsin. The weather and the scenery may not be quite the same, but the basic air of you-can-be-absolutely-any-kind-of-crazy-person-that-you-want, and be accepted, as long as you are not a threat has a very nice feel to it. The fact that bicycle shop owners outrank bankers socially doesn't hurt either.

Namaste', Bruce Chris
but that means you don't have the california coast line! :(

[Jennifer5]

Ever hear of Lake Michigan???? I understand that the surfing off Milwaukee is amazing! :lol:

LAKE Michigan... that's my point.

[tpdncr4christ]

Ever hear of Lake Michigan???? I understand that the surfing off Milwaukee is amazing! :lol:

If I may, U-dog, you can walk around Lake Michigan. Good luck walking around the Pacific. :love:

[Gregory_de_Bois]

I'm a former Nor-Cal boy. First in the Bay Area, then the San Juaquin Valley, then the Mountains. I love Cali, and sort of miss the weather.

[tdogg]

:mad: You'd be nothing without WA, Starbucks Coffee & Microsoft & Boeing!
...alright, so you'd still be something, but CA would be missing out on a lot wihtout WA!

:lol:...sorry, you're born and raised in CA, but I was raised on the west coast, had to defend my home!

I'll give it to you Jen, Washington is wonderful. Never been there myself, but everything I've read and seen of it, is gorgeous. And great birding. Great coastline, ok and Starbucks (thank you!), etc.

But, it rains too dang much for me. Gotta have more sunshine than rain for this Dogg! I am looking forward to getting to Seattle perhaps later this year for work. Really wanting to visit the city!