I have lived in the midwest (Illinois and Kentucky), the East Coast (Maryland and Virginia), the West Coast (Bay Area California) and Texas.

I felt limited and sheltered growing up in the midwest and felt I was missing out, so spent my youth finding a way out of the small town I grew up in. In hindsight I have gained a greater appreciation for staying in a place like that, but it was not and still is not for me.

I probably spent more years in the mid-Atlantic area than anywhere else. The fast pace and congestion were a plus for when I was seeking to actively participate in the rat race. I made a lot of acquaintances in my two separate east coast stints, but really few friends.

California has great climate, beautiful geography, many recreational options and we had some really good friends there. But the tax/living expense, and as much as you would not think it would bug you the regulation of things that IMO are no business of government is wearing over time. I suppose some might like it. I do not.

I spent most of my professional career avoiding assignments in Texas. The climate and first impressions of Houston did not seem very attractive. We ended up here due to office consolidation late in my career. In two years I have become very much of fan. The geography, climate and cultural activities are there (not like San Francisco or even DC, but they are here), but what really has set Texas apart for us is the people. Everyone from the girl that bags your groceries, to our real estate guy (who still checks up on us), to the guys I am riding bikes with seem to actually give a **** about their fellow humans and seem generally happier than people from anywhere else I have lived.

I like that.

Kudos.

I have to agree with this point. In fact, I've written about this social characteristic in a few other threads. And, to the extent that one is a social animal, the more weight it carries in what it is you look for that is agreeable to you in a place to live. I don't think that people in California are necessarily unfriendly so much that it is the case that everyone here is in too much of a goddamned hurry.

No one really cares.

"wut?"

Who is Erik the Inveigler?

What's it to you? That's a rather furtive question, don't you think? Almost subterranean, really. Maybe you should change your nick to: Velo Vole.

Pass.

You must be new here.

What is it you want to say?

Decided to do my evening Addiction catch-up backwards, so took me a bit to get to this: what excellent news:)

Simply put, I usually say something in that vein when someone posts something that we all had already figured out.

Ah, es tud mir leid! So you must agree with my Velo Vole suggestion!

About what?

If you have to ask....

That's not very friendly. Must be a California thing.

Don't be coy.

[MENTION=25227]Velo Vol[/MENTION] is a bear. Try to keep up.

Thanks! I finally feel like I'm starting to get semi-decent results.

I think people who are old enough and watched enough British TV back when they were youngsters... would remember Roger Moore as The Saint. Great show, which also featured a Volvo P1800, if I remember that far back. The stick figure lives on! The Saint was the same genre as the original Avengers with John Steed and Diana Rigg. Another classic.

Debonaire was a great description for Moore in his role as Bond.

That's pretty awesome.

Congrats Mrs. Trainsnorter!

Yes, I forgot to add my delight to read the glad tidings.