Please Tell Me Why You Love California.

[David Zephyr]

I know without any reservation whatsoever that there is no other place on earth that I could ever live except my beloved California.

Tell me why you love California and what it means to you.

[cboy4]

1. Where else can you live and be a couple of hours away

from the beaches to the west and a couple hours away from the world class ski resorts at Lake Tahoe to the east, as well as the beautiful Mojave Desert, Palm Springs and Las Vegas?

Very few places in the world where you can live open and freely as a gay person in San Francisco and West Hollywood.

I love the diversity of cultures and enjoy the various languages including Spanish.

I love the palm trees and the Mediterranean Climate weather a lot.

Who gets tired of Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo?

It's home for sure.

[David Zephyr]

15. Yes.

Home.

[roody]

2. Freedom from second hand smoke.

When you meet someone, their first question is NOT "What church do you go to?" I love feeling like I could be in Mexico. When you order vegetarian nobody says' "What?! You don't eat meat?!"

[Auggie]

3. The people

For the most part they're culturally and politically aware, open to new thinking, compassionate, entrepreneurial and interesting as hell.

[uncertainty1999]

17. I agree -it's the people

Yes, the mountains, ocean and big-city life of LA, SF, or SD can pull you in, but the openness of the people here seals the deal.

[MindPilot]

23. It IS the people--I never felt more at home and accepted.

Late one June morning in 1980 I rolled into San Diego with some clothes, my toolbox, and $150. By mid-afternoon I had a job, a beach-front apartment and a bag of weed.

This is home.

[Hope4all]

29. The weather

Great climate.

[ailsagirl]

4. The diversity-- desert, mountains, coast

So many beautiful spots to go-- the Redwoods, Monterey, San Diego-- the Sierras, Tahoe.
There's no place like it.

[XemaSab]

5. The cultural and political diversity.

The scenery (especially the rolling hillsides dotted with oaks).

Finally, the world class birding in the beautiful scenery. :)

[goodgd_yall]

9. You too?!

That could have come right out of my mouth, "the rolling hillsides dotted with oaks." That is my favorite California landscape too.

[proud patriot]

6. the high sierra

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/high-sierra.php

[proud patriot]

7. The rolling golden hills with oaks means home to me

[goodgd_yall]

8. I also say, diversity, and tolerance, even acceptance.

And, of course, the climate!

[proud patriot]

10. The people , as long as they are not in their cars

[Cant trust em]

11. I wish they all could be California girls

Well East coast girls are hip, I really dig those styles they wear
and the Southern girls with the way they talk, they knock me out when I'm down there
The midwest farmers daughters well, they make you feel alright
and the Northern girls with the way they kiss they keep their boyfriends warm at night.
I wish they all could be California girls.

What other state can inspire such great songs?

[MindPilot]

25. John Stewart's Gold...

When the lights go down in the California town
People are in for the evening
I jump into my car and I throw in my guitar
My heart beatin' time with my breathin'
Drivin' over Kanan, singin' to my soul
There's people out there turnin' music into gold

Well my buddy Jim Bass he's a-workin' pumpin gas
And he makes two fifty for an hour
He's got rythm in his hands as he's tappin' on the cans
Sings rock and roll in the shower
Drivin' over Kanan, singin' to my soul
There's people out there turnin' music into gold

Ah, the California girls are the greatest in the world
Each one's a song in the making
Singin' rock to me I can hear the melody
The story is there for the takin'
Drivin' over Kanan, singin' to my soul
There's people out there turnin' music into gold

[David Zephyr]

31. We just lost John Stewart who grew up in Pomona.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit Daydream Believer and became a well-known figure in the 1960s folk music revival as a member of The Kingston Trio, has died, according to the band's website. He was 68.
Stewart suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm and died early Saturday at a San Diego hospital, the band announced on its official website.

"The world has lost one of its best men, but a man who lived well and made many people happy with his love, his wit and his music," the announcement said.

Stewart joined The Kingston Trio in 1961, three years after the band released its version of an old folk song, Tom Dooley, that went on to become a hit. Stewart replaced the band's founder Dave Guard, who had left to pursue a new musical direction.

Stewart spent six years leading the group, during which time the band recorded 13 albums, according to its website.

[mitchtv]

12. Just love it

mild climate, freedom to be gay, the ocean, mountains, desert, and all the gorgeous men

[proud patriot]

13. Have you heard the song "California" by Melissa Ethridge?

Great song .

[7 of 11]

14. The best at everything but two things...

We gave the world Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

[Kajsa]

16. The ocean, the climate, the diversity

and the interesting people who live here.

California is my home, even when I'm away
from it.

[Joe Bacon]

18. Picking tangerines off the tree in January!

I came to South Gate from Pittsburgh on January 16th 1982. I left 2 feet of snow and 5 hours later landed in the thickest fog I'd ever seen, but by the time I got to Grandma's house, I was pooped. I slept 12 hours than woke up to a breakfast of fresh croissants, scambled eggs and Farmer John Bacon and then Grandma had me go outside and pick a half dozen tangerines. I was hooked. Nothing like picking fresh tangerines, oranges, avocados, apricots and peaches off of Grandma's trees. :-)

[devilgrrl]

19. I like California, especially Los Angeles because I can be me without question

and I'm not even that weird! :crazy:

[plantwomyn]

20. Moved after the 89' earthquake.

But even that experience taught me the wonder of Mother Earth power.
Fresh grilled trout caught just 2 minutes ago.
Sequoias making you sure how minuscule we humans really are.
Salamanders under my magnolia tree.
Lesbian softball leagues.
The drive down 101 from San Francisco to LA LA land.
Yosemite.

[californiablue]

21. I love California

because of the weather. I am a climate wimp, and love that where I'm at (Silicon Valley), it's neither too hot nor too cold (generally speaking), and if I want snow, I can drive a couple of hours, if I want the beach, same thing. I would never live anywhere else.

[MindPilot]

22. DU doesn't have the bandwidth...

Maria Shriver said it way better than I could.

"The more I thought about it, I thought, you know, if Barack Obama was a state he would be California," Miss Shriver added, to thunderous applause.

"I mean, think about it - he's diverse. Open. Smart. Independent. Bucks tradition. Innovative. Inspiring. Dreamer. Leader!"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/04/wuspols604.xml


And say what you want about Arnie, but what other state's governor has pictures of himself smoking pot with naked chicks?

[Joanie Baloney]

24. I am Californicated

and I love it!

I've lived in Washington, Nebraska, Japan, Mexico, Florida, Arizona and places inbetween. Ain't nothin' like the sight of a glorious sunset concert at Humphrey's, barbequeing in December, "complaining" to friends and relatives about the weather, finding footprints that match yours at Graumann's Chinese Theater, driving up Highway 1, eating tacos at 3 a.m., enjoying the wildflowers in the Borrego desert, fishing for bluegill at June Lake or seeing Mt. Baldy glistening with fresh snow from the L.A. freeways.

Anything you want, you can find here. When I'm away all I can think of is "California, here I come!"

JB

[Jack Rabbit]

26. This is where the gold rush was and where the redwoods are

It is, as everyone knows, the center of the universe.

[David Zephyr]

30. "It is, as everyone knows, the center of the universe."

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, Jack Rabbit. It is the center of the universe indeed.

[Ecumenist]

27. It's just beautiful, from the unbelievably beautiful north state

From the mountain ranges that include the Coastal ranges, Siskiyous, Southern Cascades and Sierras, the little known Warner Ranges and King Ranges; the Redwood forests and the rolling hills of the northern Sacramento Valleys, Oak studded, soon to be covered with wildflowers of every type and colour, the rice paddies and the fields filled with Tomatoes, corn and other tasty veggies; many of the same fields planted with winter wheat, cabbage, Broccoli and lettuce in the cool winter months ...not to mention the Orchards an vineyards, Bucolic cattle ranches, mostly dairy in the north coast in Humboldt and Delnorte, which were settled by folks from northern Europe, while beef cattle are king interiorly; the breathtaking rivers that are so dominant in the upper 2/3 of the state, topped by the Sacramento and the Delta region; the lovely city of San Francisco and Bay area, the world famous bridges and vistas;

The Gold country and the historic places the most can only read about but we can visit: Sonora, Angels Camp, Placerville, Columbia, Eldorado, Auburn, Jenny Lind, Georgetown, Rough'n Ready, all easily accessible by hwy 49 and many that were stops on the famous Pony Express lines. The mines where the 49er's either made a fortune or lost their shirts are still there;

The Whales that regularly can be sighted off the coast. The Sea Lion and Elephant seal colonies with their soap opera interaction. The central coast,Salinas and it fields of artichokes, lettuce and Peas, Gilroy, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Solvang, Carpenteria, and inland...the sights and smells of the fields of olives, Peach orchards, cotton, corn,garlic,'maters, squash and the friendly country folks who don't mind waving a greeting to strangers passing through;

Southern California: LA, with is dream factory, from surfers to would be stars and models to salt of the earth folks who live and let live; the beautiful and stark desert areas where the sun worshippers, heat lovers and desert rats sigh in euphoric bliss at the Joshua trees, the cacti, the desert scrub and denizens. From The Valley to Pacific Palisades, Newport Beach to Torrance, Long Beach to Thousand Oaks, there's something for everyone. Go a little further south and you find yourself surrounded by Mountains to the east, cities on the plains and hills, separated by expanses that evoke the pictures of what southern California used to look like before development and water from the north via the Aqueduct. One can be at the beach, drive ot the desert and via a tram, be in snow in record time.
The beautiful small towns in the mountains which are as different from the behemoth megalopolis of the basins as night and day.

Finally, the border towns of the far southern state with it's crowning jewel, San Diego. Calexico and the other agricultural towns that straddle the border complete this great state but it's most precious treasure? The people, who with all their quirks, idiosyncrasies and eccentricities, have a basic drive to live and let live, to allow those to come here to be who they want to be. Oh, we have a fw loudmouths who try to dictate to other's how to live their lives BUT most of us believe in tfreedon and the pursuit of happiness. That's why I love my state, me...a native Angelina Is there anything else to say?



:shrug: :shrug: :loveya: :loveya:

[kestrel91316]

28. Presumes a fact not necessarily in evidence..........

I have an uneasy relationship with this place that I have lived in fully half of my life......

But I love the cultural diversity, and the mild winters (the fierce summers are another thing....), and the availability of unusual restaurants, and most of my clients, and my work.

I don't love how almost everyone suffers in varying degrees from "hurry disease", and how many of them treat me like a McDonald's cashier instead of a medical professional, and the 119-degree summer heat that goes on for months, and the very poorly-informed and poorly-educated people who predominate in my community. I hate the fast and expensive foreign cars racing up and down the streets day and night with subwoofers and tailpipes blaring, and I especially hate their drivers.

[katty]

32. Born here-lived in other places-came back-love it because

it is California Nation-no other place like it.

[MaryBear]

33. So many interesting, poverty stricken intellectuals.

Even a few rich ones. Born and raised here, of a pioneer family, when I return from afar I know I am home by the multiplicity of colors, languages, and energy levels, co-existing mostly peaceably. Love the organs that rise up out of the orchestra pit in some old theaters, playing "California, dum dum dum!" Artichokes. Coastal fog. And more. . . -mb

[AlCzervik]

34. i lived in mass for 30 years, 2 1/2 in Texas and California for 8 years no and by far

California is my favorite place ever, the people here are pretty wonderful and the places, my god you never even have to leave the state to go on vacation, best coasts and best forests, just a wonderful place.

i am a total convert and i'm never moving back east.

[dhill926]

35. It sucks here....

do not move here...really...you'll be sorry....stay away.....

sarcasm:

[MaryBear]

36. You are right, dhill926!

No way can a new comer appreciate California. Best just stay away.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

37. It builds within

Did you ever hear the saying if you stay in California a while, when you leave some of California goes with you. It is the people that send you home with a gift which is ment to remind you.

It may seem to you later in time that you can never get enough when you reflect back on your experiences in California.And I think that is because it is impossible to reflect back on it all at one time because there is so much there.

If you are talking about the state of California than that is the one for instance where I would agree that too much is never enough.

Other than that I am a very moderate person!