Southern California is how the rest of the country wants to live, sadly. Why do you think they've done TV series about Pasadena, "The OC", etc. I'd love to see them do a TV series about Podunk, IA but noooooo....

Even the eco-greenies tend to drive their SUVs to the protest rally, read Kunstler on that, his observations are hilarious. One noted "green" figure has his house situated such that it's inaccessable except by SUV and he holds meetings there. He feels we'll just have "hydrogen power" or something and that will be the only change.

Hawaii is another example - greater Honolulu is in a perpetual state of gridlock, and it's all about what you drive. My older sister there drives a $35k blinged out Passat, and she and the hubby are considering getting a THIRD car. This in a state with a good, and could be excellent, bus system and in Honolulu a "working area" of very few square miles.

I ran into more anti-car types in "The OC" than I did on that little concrete island in the sea. The outer islands are from what I've heard even less bike and public transit friendly.

So yeah, living in Southern California is indicative of the rest of the nation. And we've just annexed Sunnyvale!