Have A Great Summer Everyone

Welcome to California, Ed.
I left NYC 30+ years ago to come to California. I've lived in Northern Calif, Central Calif (near Yosemite) and now I'm living in Santa Barbara. Hey, where else can you go skiing in the mountains and swimming on the beach all within a few hours.
Welcome to America's favorite playground!

Ya' all got me thinking now.

Geez,
Even if you walk to Californie, you should be there before winter. Even if it is, you won't notice the difference. Yahoo huh!
I live on the Pacific coast also, unfortunatly it's in the Seattle area, born and raised. Too much grey and rain. I do manage to vacation for a week or two in Palm Springs every year and just love it.
At the rate I'm going however, I don't know if I'll ever be able to retire there. If I'd quite my Hi Fi habit, there might be some hope. I wonder if the Betty Ford clinic has a program for us? I'd better check into that, could be my way out.
When you get there, buy a laptop with a wireless connection and you can sit outside every day, and stay in touch with all us Audiogon nuts year round(is that one word or two?)
Best of luck in your new adventure.

Buscis: I hope that your relocation is smooth and uneventful. I can't imagine what it is like to pick up and move after being in one place for so long, let alone to the other side of the country. Besides all of the work involved, there's a lot of emotion to deal with too. I hope that it is well worth the effort and that you can take full advantage of the warmer climate once you're fully settled in. Best wishes and don't forget to pack your "bikini watching gear" : ) Sean
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Hey Folks. Thanks for all of the great responses. I really feel very confident with this move. My Mom, and almost my whole family (aunts/uncles), have been out there for over 20 years. They are located in So. Cal. in Del Mar.

About five minutes from my Mom's home is a little area called Fairbanks Ranch/Rancho Sante Fe. It reminds me a lot of where I live in Connecticut (only in relation to the horse farms, not the 20 million dollar palatial estates). I would have to hit the lottery about three or four times in order to afford Fairbanks Ranch. But, if I could afford it, I would be there in a NY minute.

I live in a little Connecticut town called "Newtown". It was established in 1705, and is some of the only remaining unadulterated ares left in Fairfield county, which is the furthermost southeatern portion of CT.

I am on 7 acres, up on a hill, surrounded by 140 acres of cow pasture. It is truly God's country. There is not a single day that I awake and not Thank the powers to be for the beauty which surrounds me. Potions of Connecticut are absolutely stunning.

Unfortunately, changes abound. It is just not the same as I remember it to be, and needless to say, never will be. Development is a double edged sword. Because of our proximity to NYC, and the unaffordability of lower Fairfield county, encroachment is inevitable. The "New York energy" and fast pace is entering into the equation. Ultimately, the "New England Country Feel" is slowly diminishing creating a pace I don't particularly relish. Plus...the weather SUCKS!

I found a great little town in California about 15 miles inland in SanDiego county, called Temecula. It is probably some of the most beatiful but unusual landscape I have ever seen. A mixture of desert flora, and deciduous trees. Along with mountains, really cool rock outcroppings, and horse farms. Lots and lots of horse farms. I find a certain serenity in watching the cows and horses grazing. Hey, some people love watching the ocean. What can I tell ya'?

I was also going to mention the grazing sheep, but I figured I would be opening the door to a lot of verbal abuse and degradation. I'm already waiting for the farm animal jokes to start. I know how you guys can be. And that's one of the things I love most about this site. :>)

Thanks again for your responses, Ed.