On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 14:30:15 -0700, "Bruce" wrote:

Southern California has very little to do with the majority of
the state. There's no smog problem where I live and the
same can be said with the majority of the state. At least
no more than around any other part of the country. Ever
been to Denver? The same goes for the crime/gang problem.
Gangs aren't a problem except in the major metro areas
and that would apply to *any* state. I lived in Portland, Or.
for a few years. I moved because I got sick of the gangs.
What do you mean by wall-to-wall cities? Did you ever
leave Southern California? Really. That's the only part of
the state that's really like that more than any other state
and that's mostly just the L.A. area. The S.F. Bay Area
is congested too but not as much as many areas on the
East Coast. Between that is lots of wide open spaces.
Dry, dead landscape??? This confirms that all you know
is the far southern portion of the state. The majority of
the state is green, either from trees or crops.

Bruce
Redding, Ca.



I agree with Bruce that Southern California (Los Angeles and parts south) is what an awful lot of people think of when the subject
of California arises. I know that I do. And I further agree that Northern California is a world apart from the southern part of the
state. There is much the same dichotomy in Louisiana. North of Baton Rouge is a totally different place than Southern Louisiana.
There is actually some dry ground up near Shreveport. I know there is, because I saw it! (Neither half of Louisiana is habitable
during the summer, but that's a different story.)

I was in Southern California (San Diego and Camp Pendleton) for a while before boarding a troop ship and heading for the setting
sun. It could very well be that association which causes me to say that I left nothing in California that I want to go back for.
But, at the same time, the most beautiful sight I've ever seen is that selfsame California - the Golden Gate Bridge and San
Francisco as seen from the deck of a returning troop ship. And, I'm sure that circumstance affected the beauty in the observation.
The point is that most frequently what people find in a place is what they bring with them.

I think that what it boils down to is that "Home" is the prettiest, best, ... , etc. regardless of where it might be physically
located. I've been in Wichita, Kansas for about the last 30 years. It is "Home" and, as a result, I'm sort of partial to this area.
Oh, no one will ever make any money running an Alpine Ski resort anywhere near here, and some folks might even think that the miles
and miles of nothing but miles and miles verge on being monotonous. Yet, there is beauty in the Flint Hills and the Gyp Hills and
the "Amber Waves of Grain", and everywhere else, in this state as in all states of the Union. But, you have to open your eyes and
look outside yourself to see it.

Now, where do I turn in the soapbox?


Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS USA