Almost (at least). I am weighing my options - California remains my first choice but we shall see how things pan out in the coming weeks. I graduate May 15th so I have a little time. But I am already planning on attending the 60th celebration regardless
I don't know EVERYTHING, I actually know just barely enough about a lot of things to be semi-dangerous. It also makes me a fun guest at a dinner party.
In defense of @Nemo14, who hails from Rhode Island according to her profile, I've lived in New England and know how different the perspective can be when the states are smaller than most West Coast counties. (I also lived in coastal Virginia, not far from where @prberk hails from in Richmond)
The mainstream news media is really the one to blame here, for touting The Drought! in an attempt to get page views and clicks and Neilsen ratings. But when you live back East in those very small states that our founding fathers set up, it's very hard to comprehend the sheer scale and scope of a giant state like California.
As a comparison, here's Orange County (Southern California's smallest county) versus the entire State of Rhode Island where @Nemo14 lives.
State of Rhode Island
1,214 Square Miles (37 Miles Wide, 48 Miles Long)
Population - 1.05 Million People
Median Income - $54,500
Largest City - Providence, 110,000 People
Highest Elevation - 805 Feet, Jeremiah Hill
Lowest Elevation - Sea Level, Atlantic Ocean
Orange County
1,102 Square Miles (32 Miles Wide, 43 Miles Long)
Population - 3.1 Million People
Median Income - $81,260
Largest City - Anaheim, 345,000 People
Highest Elevation - 5,687 Feet, Santiago Peak
Lowest Elevation - Sea Level, Pacific Ocean
State of California
163,696 Square Miles (250 Miles Wide, 780 Miles Long)
Population - 38.9 Million People
Median Income - $61,200
Largest City - Los Angeles, 12.1 Million People
Highest Elevation - 14,505 Feet, Mount Whitney
Lowest Elevation - 282 Feet Below Sea Level, Death Valley
Rhode Island is roughly the size of Orange County, but with one third the number of people. The neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined at 16,000 square miles don't even equal the land mass of Orange County's neighbor San Bernardino County with over 20,000 square miles in just that one inland county alone.
Californians often forget the MASSIVE scale and scope of our great western home. Heck, WDI created a famous E Ticket hang gliding ride that attempts to represent the entire state, but only scratches the surface. When someone from the East Coast hears that there's a big drought in California from our dumbed-down modern media, they can't help but imagine that it must be impacting the entire state instead of just specific regions and/or industries in that massive state.
It actually depends on which city you live in. Here in Orange County, the smallest SoCal county by land mass and population with only 3.1 Million people, has a patchwork quilt of water restrictions. They vary from a requested 8% reduction in water use by Seal Beach, to 12% for Santa Ana, to up to 30% for the small town I live in, Villa Park.
And like clockwork, as I type this at Midnight in my den, the neighbor's automatic sprinkler system kicks in blanketing the hillside with water.
There's no question this is a drought. We've had 'em before and we'll have 'em again. Things like cities not watering the grass in traffic medians, or citizens not watering your lawn in the heat of the afternoon sun, need to be implemented to help out. And everyone should help out, within reason.
But cancelling a vacation to California because you're afraid the minuscule amount of water you would use during your week here in a hotel is absolutely hilarious. Or that by somehow not being in the audience for World Of Color this summer will save water, that's even funnier.
That would be like me cancelling a trip to New England because of the shortage of Natural Gas in New England due to man-made energy policy by several New England states. Natural Gas in Southern California is used widely in homes and industry and costs a fraction of what consumers in New England have been paying due to the shortage there.
This past winter Natural Gas spot prices soared to over $20.00 BTU in New England, while prices for Natural Gas in SoCal hovered around $2.50 BTU amidst a glut of cheap energy and very plentiful Natural Gas here. In the 21st century, the cost and availability of electricity is just as important as the cost and availability of water. But if I had a trip to New England planned, I certainly wouldn't cancel it because of the energy shortage and pipeline crisis in those states.
Thank you raven. We will be there at some point - DH has never been. But it won't be this year, we've made other plans that we're quite excited about.Nemo, on behalf of the Californians here on the site, especially the natives, I want to apologize if you've felt offended in any way. I don't think TP was intentionally being snarky towards you, but I can see it bothered you. I don't want you to think Californians are stuck-up big shots who think we're all that. There may be some out there, but we're not them.
If you really want to visit us, make the trip. If you come when the drought ends, you'll be waiting years and years. Just make the trip and have a great time. I'm sure you had some lovely plans mapped out. Whenever you decide to go, whether soon or later, visit us for tips! We don't bite and we won't come off as snobs.
#willowbaystrikesagain
