California ,There I Went

Certain people who shall remain nameless are insinuating that I'm being a big jerk because I like to talk about going into New York all the time. Little do they know that I'm a big jerk for completely different reasons. Actually, I want to even the playing field a little bit by talking about my recent trip to Southern California. I've been away for a little over four years now and here is my updated take on the place with what hits me most:

1) The weather is usually pretty nice. Even when it's hot and dry at least it's not humid. I do wish the place were greener, but especially when I've been back there between the months of November and April the weather is always very comfortable.

2) It's a lot more laid-back than New York. In general, of course, there are exceptions. This fits my personality well. I come off as kind of a slacker in New York, I can tell. Whereas I generally came of pretty hard-working in California. In New York there's an expectation that you're going to get more work done in less time. People in California work hard too, but there seems to be a different value ascribed to it.

3) The San Gabriel Mountains are nice to look at. When you can see them, of course.

4) The Mexican food and burgers are so much better than what you can find on the east coast.

5) Pasadena is still one of my favorite places ever.

6) If I moved back I would probably get sick of it again after about six months.

Sorry for that last one but it's important to be truthful about such things. I actually like Southern California more now than I used to. I like having it be a place I can visit now and then, and the wife likes it a lot too. But as far as day to day life goes, at this point, I need cold weather to keep me going. Maybe when I'm ready to retire I'll feel differently.