What’s Wrong with California?

Actually there really is very little that is wrong with California.  I should know. My family moved here 60 years ago.  I have traveled over most of the state’s highways.  I can say that this state offers more opportunity for any endeavor that you might have.

Most Californians live within 50 miles of the Pacific coast.  The temperatures are fairly moderate in most of those areas.  The educational opportunities include some of America’s best universities including UCLA, USC, Stanford, and UC Berkeley.  The arts and entertainment is second to none.

What’s not to like?  The cost of housing is at least twice the prices of most other cities.  Even the poorest neighborhoods are expensive.  Los Angeles public transportation is very inadequate thus car ownership is almost mandatory.  Street gangs have impacted city life by making evening walks impossible in some areas (mostly the poorer neighborhoods).

We just took a brunch cruise this past Sunday on Hornblower Cruises in Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles.  The Marina Hornblower is not their most attractive

                                                                     ship from the outside but inside they have dance floor and a fabulous buffet.  The yacht toured around the bay giving us a view of the many beautiful ships and sail boats owned by the rich.  The entire bay is surrounded by homes and condominiums that most of us cannot afford (all owned by people who will be pay higher taxes if Barack Obama becomes president).

Marina Del Rey is just one of many beautiful places in this state.  San Diego has La Jolla and Mission Bay.  Metropolitan Los Angeles has so many beautiful communities that are in and around it that they are too numerous to list here.  Beverly Hills and Bel Air are the two most famous.  Twin Peaks and Marina Park seem to be the choice areas of San Francisco.  However there are many other less known communities through out the state that are really the choice places to live and work.  My two favorite places are Mission Bay in San Diego and Ventura County just north of Los Angeles.

What about the rest of the state?  We have Mt. Shasta in the North.  There is Lake Tahoe in the middle along with Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.  In the south there is Palm Springs where it rarely rains.

Then there is our population diversity.  California is the diversity capital of the nation.  We have all races colors and creeds.  From the Gay and Lesbian communities to Scientology everyone is part of this state.  If you are unable to accept diversity this is not the place to be.  My problem is I just can’t afford the cost of living on Balboa Island.