I've always wanted to go to California, mainly to amble about Inyo County, the location of the Lone Pine area and the Alabama Hills, which have featured in probably hundreds of westerns. And, of course, being a desert rat, I'd like to see Death Valley.
In fact, if California were a normal state - i.e., not run by flashy commies as if it were a giant asylum for the feeble-minded - I would even consider living there (probably in Inyo County; the well-known actor, Elisha Cook, Jr lived in Big Pine, and only came down out of the hills to Hollywood when he was filming a movie).
Maybe the state will be approaching a turning point before too long: "California Has Become Uninvestable".
California is still rich in both natural beauty, and for now human capital, but if tech companies start investing elsewhere a lot of the jobs will follow. Austin is already a tech Mecca, and AI companies will look outside California for reliable energy. California's quality of life advantages are being eroded by damaging policies, and not everybody wants their kids to become gay communists.
Because of the sheer perversity of human nature, the people of California may have to drink the bitter cup to the dregs before they come to their senses; but it could happen - though, unfortunately, probably not in time for me to buy a little piece of desert wilderness before I check out.
The other place that interests me is Cuba. The country seems to be teetering on the verge of collapse, and, may it please God, we will live to see the country free of its long-standing dictatorship in the next few years. It will take a lot of investment to bring this country back after more than six decades of communism, but I think there is great potential. Strangely (or maybe not), Cuba may wind up making a comeback before California. So, while I may not get my rancho in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, it's just barely conceivable that that condo in Trump Tower/Havana is within my grasp.
I grew up in the Navy, and my father was a Pacific Fleet sailor, so I lived for a while at various places in CA. Also, in the Navy myself I was homeported in Long beach, and later stationed at NAS Lemoore near Fresno. And finally, working for military Sealift Command for twenty years I spent much time in both San Diego and the Bay Area.
ReplyDeleteYes, CA has beautiful scenery and climate. And used to have fun cities to visit and even live near. Key words: "used to."
If I lived in or near a big city in California, it would most likely be San Diego.
DeleteMy brother lived in Bishop for about 8 years, 15 miles north of Big Pine. I passed through both Big Pine & Lone Pine several times when I was visiting them, and we'd go sight-seeing. I also drove through Death Valley on my way there once. It looked dead. Fortunately, I made it out alive. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Bristlecone Pine forest with 4000 year old pine trees is just east of Bishop and Big Pine. They're an interesting thing to see in the area, too.
Sweet! So you've been there and enjoyed the area's natural beauty. I'd also like to make a pilgrimage to Bridgeport, which is in Mono County. It's the setting for the opening scenes of my favorite film noir, Out of the Past.
DeleteAs to the suitablility of living in Cali, I'd say if a guy really wanted to, Bishop (Owens Valley) might be the least California place you could choose. When I'd visit my brother in Bishop, it just always seemed like it had nothing too do with the rest of the state. But, that was, like, 35 years ago, so it could have changed. But it's probably still far better than anywhere along the coast. Just don't expect a lush green environment, it's more of a desert. My brother and his wife got tired of the dry climate, and moved to Vancouver, WA when they retired.
DeleteI lived just across Hawthorne Blvd from Manhattan beach in 1990.
ReplyDeleteI liked it a lot, just got really annoyed by so many smug, superior Angelinos.
The only major places left on my bucket list are Rome and outer space.
I'm planning a trip to Rome, not so sure about space.
You could always have your ashes launched into outer space, Veeshir.
DeleteNot quite the same thing, of course, but it would satisfy any bucket list.
V, just tell Elon Musk, "I want to believe!"
DeleteSwap hemispheres, and you could be talking about Victoria instead of Cuba.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's not such a great comparison, seeing how long the rot has been building in Cuba. If the parallel holds true Victoria might be putrid for a few decades yet.
Well, let's hope Victoria comes around sooner rather than later.
DeleteWe rented a house for a year in a little town called Marina, situated along the coast between Ft. Ord and Monterey while Mr. H attended the second of two military language schools. We visited San Francisco, toured Big Sur, but never made it as far as the redwoods. We saw a part of Death Valley moving in. At the time, Monterey was a miniature San Francisco, I shudder to think what it’s like now. I have mixed feelings about the time we spent there, and to this day have never felt the desire to move back.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that one of the most vivid memories I have is during one storm, when we could feel the pounding of the surf on the shore (the house was only a mile from the beach).
DeleteI like listening to the surf at night, but I don't want to feel like I'm sleeping on an artillery range! Here's a little sidenote: when I was around six years old, I told Ma Paco that I wanted to be a San Diego policeman. She said they've got police departments in North Carolina, too, you know. But it had to be San Diego. I was, at the time, a fan of some police tv show set in San Diego (might have been Manhunt).
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