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closeAfter living in California for more than a decade, I’ve learned to take the ribbing from family and friends in other parts of the country who don’t share my enthusiasm for the place.
You’ve heard the disses before. My favorites include the oldie but goodie about how at any moment the state could fall into the Pacific Ocean, or that we’re all going to go up in flames in the next wildfire. I get at least two calls from the Midwest when the TV news shows footage of burning homes or reports the slightest temblor.
“How can you live with the threat of earthquakes?” To which I reply, “How can you live with the threat of ice storms and tornadoes?”
The recent budget crisis hasn’t helped matters. “At least my state isn’t bankrupt,” they’ve quipped.
Now, it seems that many in the Golden State aren’t so thrilled about it, either.
A recent Field Poll found that 41 percent of registered voters say it is “one of the best places to live.” That’s in stark contract to the 76 percent who thought that 30 years ago when the question was first asked.
These days, there’s plenty to hate.
The financial mess alone is enough to turn off even the most die-hard Californians with the government’s stinging cuts to secondary and higher education, social services for children and the elderly, and the parks system. Meanwhile, unemployment continues to creep up and housing prices, while on their way down, are still out of reach for many residents. Ouch.
Yet, even with all this pain, there are still several reasons why Cali is worth it:
• If you’re up for it, you can surf and ski in the same day.
• We have wineries — lots of wineries. And who doesn’t deserve a little fruit of the vine in tough times?
• We’re the home of In-N-Out Burger.
• You don’t have to go to the zoo or an aquarium to see marine life.
• We have better celebrities at our basketball games. Who would you rather see? Denzel Washington and Jack Nicholson or Kid Rock (Detroit Pistons)?
• The weather. Enough said.
•••
In June, I wrote about Hector Torres, a soldier in the Army National Guard who found himself without a job after returning from the war in Afghanistan last year. His search for work was featured in a documentary film, “Vets for Hire,” which told the story of three veterans in similar situations.
Fortunately, Torres has found employment since the column was published. In fact, the day after the column ran, Torres received a phone call from Warren Lilly, owner of Warren’s Nursery in Los Osos.
“He said, ‘You know what, I have a job if you’re interested,’ ” Torres told me. Torres accepted and now works there full time, caring for plants, helping customers and making deliveries. He earns an entry-level but good wage, enough to keep the bills paid.
“My advice is that when somebody comes along with a job, take the job, don’t be picky,” he said.
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