Those of us who grew up in the East or endured the bitter cold winters and steamy summers of the Midwest all wanted to be in California. The Mamas and Poppas assured us we'd all "be safe and warm" if we were in L.A. and we believed them. The weather was fine and the things we cared about seemed to happen in the Golden State.
I spent half of my 67 years in California and, for the most part, thought the place lived up to expectations. Sometime in the early 1990's it began to turn. Traffic and taxes grew exponentially worse and the condition of the roads and infrastructure began to noticeably deteriorate in spite of the growing cost of living in lotus land. Property taxes, though slowed by proposition 13, snowballed along with sales, income, and gas taxes yet the state remained broke, the public schools barely adequate and English in danger of becoming a second language.
But I digress.
A friend recently sent me this You Tube video of some major Southern California freeways and city streets from the 1960's. It reminded me of how great the place used to be and why I no longer live there. For those of you who remain, this may almost be beyond belief. If you are a former Californian, this video should affirm your decision to flee.
It truly was once the state of dreams.
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