Just got back from Cali...

tonyb

shack wrote: »

Based on my visits there...I couldn't imagine living in CA.

Don't get me wrong...some parts are beautiful...like the Monterey Peninsula , Napa, Yosemite, the Sierra Nevadas, etc...

But...there are all those Californians...

True....most,not all,seemed alittle quirky to me,eccentric maybe. Kinda felt twilite zone-ish. I tried to put that off and just pay attention to the beauty. The Bay area,had the most normal people probably due to the amount of tourists. Should have seen the looks I got when I lit up a smoke,like I was a baby killer or something. With all the mountains,houses built into the sides at all levels, in an earthquake zone,one has to question the sanity of some of you Californians.:)

cheddar

SF, across the golden gate up highway 1, wine country...that's twilight zone central. Plenty of more 'normal' places in the south and east bay. Just not offering much that would appeal to tourists.

tonyb

cheddar wrote: »

SF, across the golden gate up highway 1, wine country...that's twilight zone central. Plenty of more 'normal' places in the south and east bay. Just not offering much that would appeal to tourists.

EH,I dunno about that. L.A., Oakland, don't know if I would class that as normal. I went threw the town of Marin along highway 1 and found such a mix of Yuppies,bikers,and some real backwoods types. On another note,I found all of Cali to be very dog friendly. Everywhere I went,dogs were present,in stores,cafe's, beaches, OK for me 'cause I love dogs and found those with dogs, were somewhat normal when I struck up a conversation with them.

cheddar

tonyb wrote: »

EH,I dunno about that. L.A., Oakland, don't know if I would class that as normal. I went threw the town of Marin along highway 1 and found such a mix of Yuppies,bikers,and some real backwoods types.

Like I said, up highway 1 is twilight zone central, and Marin is probably ground zero. LA is over 300 mi from the bay area which would probably put you in another state in the midwest. Oakland has problems with crime and poverty like any big metro area, but it certainly isn't a Marin (I would of thought you'd say Berkeley instead, which is another twilight zone bubble). And if you just drive up 580 from oakland about 30 min, you run into the suburbs of Pleasanton and Dublin. About as 'normal' and vanilla as they come. But, like I said, probably not anywhere a tourist would want to end up. Although just beyond pleasanton are the livermore wineries that I think someone mentioned above.

hearingimpared

I spent a year once in Kalafornia one week.:D J/k!

While there are some very nice areas there are some real S&^Tholes there too just like any other state. I particularly liked Santa Clara.

Danny Tse

cheddar wrote: »

Like I said, up highway 1 is twilight zone central, and Marin is probably ground zero. LA is over 300 mi from the bay area which would probably put you in another state in the midwest. Oakland has problems with crime and poverty like any big metro area, but it certainly isn't a Marin (I would of thought you'd say Berkeley instead, which is another twilight zone bubble). And if you just drive up 580 from oakland about 30 min, you run into the suburbs of Pleasanton and Dublin. About as 'normal' and vanilla as they come. But, like I said, probably not anywhere a tourist would want to end up. Although just beyond pleasanton are the livermore wineries that I think someone mentioned above.

The San Francisco is very diverse and each city has its own distinctive characteristics.

While Oakland is often in the news with crime and poverty (not mention the abysmal Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors), there're also the multi-million dollar mansions along the hills, Lake Marriott, Paramount Theater (where Mark Knopfler just played), and its own Chinatown.

Right next to Oakland is Alameda, a man-made island/city connected by the Posey Tube underwater tunnel (you may recognize it in George Lucas' directorial debut, THX 1138). It was a naval town with tree-lined streets (you may also remember Alameda from Star Trek IV, where the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was docked, and the TV show Mythbusters) with a refurbished downtown area.

Along with Danville (home of Cpt. Sullenberger, the pilot who landed his airliner on the Hudson), Pleasanton and Dublin formed what's known as Tri-Valley. It's the typical suburb with Walmart, Target, shopping mall, and In-and Out Burger (did you try In-and-Out, Tony?)

East of Tri-Valley is Livermore, which has grown a lot in recent years. It's now more than just the Lawrence Livermore Lab; it has developed into quite a nice little city. One of the main attraction are the wineries there, which you can see from Interstate 580 as you travel eastward.

Go further eastward and you will be in Tracy and Modesto, foreclosure capital of the US.

But this is just part of the East Bay. Haven't even touched on Emeryville and Berkeley (aka Berzerkeley).

cheddar

Kind of ironic that some of the more berzerkeley parts of the bay produce a lot of the high tech movies those of us on the home theater side of the forum like. Pixar is based in Emeryville near Berkeley and Lucas has his special effects headquarters in San Rafael which is on the Marin side of the bay.

cheddar

hearingimpared wrote: »

While there are some very nice areas there are some real S&^Tholes there too just like any other state.

Just looked it up. Driving from SF to LA is like going from Chicago to Akron. Gotta remember, California has to have the same number of S&^Tholes as three or four other states just to keep pace.

Danny Tse

cheddar wrote: »

Kind of ironic that some of the more berzerkeley parts of the bay produce a lot of the high tech movies those of us on the home theater side of the forum like. Pixar is based in Emeryville near Berkeley and Lucas has his special effects headquarters in San Rafael which is on the Marin side of the bay.

Did George Lucas moved LucasFilms to the Presidio in San Francisco? I kind of remember in an article in Wired magazine that was the case. Anyway, for those who are interested, Disney has a museum within the Presideo.

I used to work out of Oakland Int'l Airport for a car rental company and the Pixar employees are some of the niciest people. On the other hand, the drug dealers are not.

cheddar

You're probably right. I'm not up to date on the latest address. I would imagine Skywalker ranch is still up there, though. Tucked back in the woods on a narrow road.

Danny Tse

cheddar wrote: »

I would imagine Skywalker ranch is still up there, though. Tucked back in the woods on a narrow road.

Lucas Valley Road, I believe. However, the road was not named after George Lucas.

cheddar

Didn't know that. But I guess it might explain why he decided to buy up land there in the first place.

bklynNupe

I just got back from the Long Beach Grand Prix and had a great time! This was my 2nd trip to cali. I was in the Bay Area a couple of years ago and I wasn't too crazy about it. This time I had my uncle showing me the in's and out's. great place to hang out and I usually try to avoid the tourist traps being from NYC. Universal Studios is not worth the paid parking. However you can't go wrong with anything in walking distance from the beach!

DeusExa

@Danny Tse, did you go to school in Cali?

Danny Tse

DeusExa wrote: »

@Danny Tse, did you go to school in Cali?

Yes....

huggies

Just for the record...... SF is not in Northern California.....

Kex

huggies wrote: »

Just for the record...... SF is not in Northern California.....

Maybe, maybe not, but the climate sure is very different down here ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_California

flyfisher

Didn't realize there are quite a few Californians on the forum.Born and raised in the greater eastbay area(Brentwood).

I am in Stockton now and i do miss living out there,more to do,Concord,Livermore,etc.But its just a short drive for me.

Danny Tse

huggies wrote: »

Just for the record...... SF is not in Northern California.....

Actually, that is kind of true....in an alternate universe.

There was a time when a proposal was floating around to split California into 2 states....and San Francisco would be on the northern end of the state of South California. I kid you not.

Danny Tse

flyfisher wrote: »

Didn't realize there are quite a few Californians on the forum.Born and raised in the greater eastbay area(Brentwood).

You may want to remind those who don't reside in CA that your Brentwood is not the same Brentwood where OJ used to live.

cnh

I agree there are some nice parts in Ca. I've been there many times. Several trips to UC Berkeley alone and Monterey, San Marin, San Raphael, L.A., San Diego...and we could go on and on....the climate in the south is very much like the land of my ancestors and it reminded me of the old country as they used to call it.

Having been born, bred, and educated pretty much between NYC and Phillie....I am the "eternal" East Coaster. The guy who grew up thinking that California was an adult Disneyland of alternative drugs, therapies, religions, and a haven for people whose feet seemed to pretty much defy earthly 'gravity'. When I made my first trip to Berkeley and San Raphael, unfortunately, all the East coast stereotypes were ON DISPLAY for yours Truly.....it was only on subsequent trips that I realized that not all Californians took mud baths, chanted mantras, saw Auras, and used aroma therapy candles? lol

But when all is said and done...I love the ocean and I love good weather. So I thought San Diego was something very special!

cnh

huggies

Danny Tse wrote: »

Actually, that is kind of true....in an alternate universe.

There was a time when a proposal was floating around to split California into 2 states....and San Francisco would be on the northern end of the state of South California. I kid you not.

It actually had a lot of traction and might have happened, except a small regional conflict(WWII) got people thinking about other things at the time. It would have carved out parts of Southern Oregon and Northern California and become the State of Jefferson.

Oh, SF is in Central California, regardless of what conventional thought/wisdom people try to tell you. Yes, I'm from the real Northern California....

cheddar

Would have been interesting to see what a real northern California would be like. For all the talk of berzerkely people, they're at least balanced out by the more conservative people in the central valley (the other central California) and down south from LA to San Diego.

Huck344

I'm coming to this thread a bit late. Other than my first 3 years, I've lived in Southern California my entire life and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I travel on a regular basis to all corners of this country, but California, specifically Los Angeles area will ALWAYS be home. Find me another place that you can go surfing one day and skiing the next, all within a 2 hour drive (I've done this several times).

I always hear about how much people dislike California. If that is so much the case, then why are all you people from the Northeast and Midwest moving here? I have Dodgers season tickets. Try going to a Dodger game when the Phillies, Cubs or Mets are in town. The games are packed with transplants who are loud, obnoxious and have absolutely NO care whatsoever that they are constantly shouting expletives while children are seated right next to them. This isn't the 700 level of the Vet!

As much east coast bias as there is against California, I've always wondered how you all would feel if we seceded from the union. We have the 8th largest GDP in the world, enough oil and natural gas production to sustain ourselves and more than double the agricultural output of any other state. Not to mention a huge majority of hi-tech.

Anyway, I'll take 300+ days of sunshine, minimal rain, low humidity and the possibility of an earthquake every 10-20 years over snow, humidity, snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

DeusExa

Huck344 wrote: »

As much east coast bias as there is against California, I've always wondered how you all would feel if we seceded from the union. We have the 8th largest GDP in the world, enough oil and natural gas production to sustain ourselves and more than double the agricultural output of any other state. Not to mention a huge majority of hi-tech.

Currently, I have great offers in the East coast. Yet, I'm probably going to attend school in CA. Yes, the state's navigating through murky economic waters as of late, but that still doesn't warrant getting out of here. CA's always been a major powerhouse in the high-tech sector, as well as in other industries too.

hearingimpared

Huck344 wrote: »

I'm coming to this thread a bit late. Other than my first 3 years, I've lived in Southern California my entire life and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I travel on a regular basis to all corners of this country, but California, specifically Los Angeles area will ALWAYS be home. Find me another place that you can go surfing one day and skiing the next, all within a 2 hour drive (I've done this several times).

I always hear about how much people dislike California. If that is so much the case, then why are all you people from the Northeast and Midwest moving here? I have Dodgers season tickets. Try going to a Dodger game when the Phillies, Cubs or Mets are in town. The games are packed with transplants who are loud, obnoxious and have absolutely NO care whatsoever that they are constantly shouting expletives while children are seated right next to them. This isn't the 700 level of the Vet!

As much east coast bias as there is against California, I've always wondered how you all would feel if we seceded from the union. We have the 8th largest GDP in the world, enough oil and natural gas production to sustain ourselves and more than double the agricultural output of any other state. Not to mention a huge majority of hi-tech.

Anyway, I'll take 300+ days of sunshine, minimal rain, low humidity and the possibility of an earthquake every 10-20 years over snow, humidity, snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

Hahaha I hope not as the Vet is now scattered over God knows how many states. BTW the situation occurs here in Philly when any rival National League team comes in. Philly, Chicago and NY are no different than most rabid fans although I must admit that the couple of Dodgers games I had attended there the crowd was laid back and in my mind BORING!:p

By the way how's the electricity situation there. Still buying it for exhorbitant prices from other states?

I'm just razzin you bro, I feel the same way about the area in which I am from and live and will stick up for it to my last breath.;)

cheddar

hearingimpared wrote: »

By the way how's the electricity situation there. Still buying it for exhorbitant prices from other states?

Just another bitter California irony. For all the supposedly 'green' bent of the state, all of the complex environmental rules and hoops to jump through actually make it far easier to set up a wind farm in Texas than in California.

Danny Tse

hearingimpared wrote: »

By the way how's the electricity situation there. Still buying it for exhorbitant prices from other states?

No, just paying royally because we got "smart meters" :mad:

Huck344

hearingimpared wrote: »

Hahaha I hope not as the Vet is now scattered over God knows how many states. BTW the situation occurs here in Philly when any rival National League team comes in. Philly, Chicago and NY are no different than most rabid fans although I must admit that the couple of Dodgers games I had attended there the crowd was laid back and in my mind BORING!:p

By the way how's the electricity situation there. Still buying it for exhorbitant prices from other states?

I'm just razzin you bro, I feel the same way about the area in which I am from and live and will stick up for it to my last breath.;)

Yeah, us Dodger fans are a bit laid back. . . It is only baseball!

The electricity situation is jacked up because of the politicians and environmentalists. They want all this green energy, so Utilities and other companies build solar fields and wind farms out in the desert. BUT, the environmentalists keep protesting the building of additional transmission lines to get the green energy to the people. It takes about 2-5 years to get a renewable energy facility approved. But, it takes more than 10 to get additional transmission lines. We have a 20% by 2010 RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard), but legislation, regulation etc. makes this impossible to meet. As it is, I believe that the three major utilities in CA (Edison, PG&E and San Diego Gas and Electric) do try. . . Well Edison and PG&E do. SDG&E is lagging way behind at around 5%.

tonyb

You may have alot of oil and gas out in Cali, they just won't let you drill for any of it. You also have alot of agriculture, but no water. Could never figure that one out, a state on the ocean, thats hurting for water. But,you do have some fine wine,I'll give ya that. Otherwise,it's alittle too twilight zone-ish for me to call it home.