From earthquake country
July 9, 2021
How does it feel to live in a state with so many things happening?
Not restful.
Yesterday I had a painful biopsy done on my tongue, and the pain relievers did not seem strong enough. I was hunkered down in my cool apartment and trying to not pay attention to my aching jaw, when the table started moving.
I picked up my iPad, phone and purse and went out down the stairs in 101 degree heat to see if the whole building was going to stay put.
After seeing the wretched newscasts coming out of Florida, it is a constant worry here.
In our old age we all want to feel safe, but we live in an unsafe world and have to deal with it.
Later, while watching the news, all about the earthquake, I see the emergency banner at the top of the screen saying that people in Plumas county have to evacuate because of a wildfire coming their way.
Lovely.
That is the only thing that would make me move out of my apartment, other than The Big One.
Other states have periodic tornadoes, hurricanes, and storms.
We have all the comforts of dealing with heat waves, wildfires, earthquakes, mud slides, rock slides, massive traffic all the time, and rising costs of housing.
Anything we do as a state government to alleviate these problems seems to be too little too late.
If we insist in building homes in the forests, we can expect to get burned out.
If we flock to the beaches we run the risk of experiencing a tsunami and water pollution, to say nothing of sunburn.
If we have a passion for winter skiing, that will soon be gone as our winters become warmer and the snow pack dwindles.
So why don’t we move to another state?
Hah.
They don’t want us, having problems of their own.
Oregon and Washington used to be the favorites for retiring Californians, but maybe that is being given second thoughts.
Now the governor asks us to save 15% of our water use.
That is not hard for me, as I take short showers, hand wash my dishes, drink beer, and flush the toilet less than fastidious people.
I do not have a yard to water, or a car to wash, so 15% of my water use is already saved.
I have spent a lifetime of being frugal, working at dead end jobs, raising children, and finally at the end of the line I can enjoy subsidized housing. There is nowhere to go at this point where I would be better off.
So we have to just suck it up and enjoy what we have.
knightsengirl 