La Shawn Barber has long been one of my favorite Bloggers. That’s why she is in my Food for Thought Blogroll. An Independent Conservative who writes about politics, faith, culture, digital technology and, occasionally, how these things intersect. Arou…

I lived here all my life, the good stuff, conservatives bastions in Orange County and Simi Valley, beautiful places to see: Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park (Check out Hume Lake Christian Camp if you have a chance), skiing in Big Bear or Mammouth Mountain, and of course, all the beaches (Think of the song, Surfin USA, by the beach boys).

The nutty stuff: the real estate market, the traffic (avoid L.A., Orange County, The Valley, etc. during rush hour, which is pretty much from 7 AM until midnite), majority of liberal sheep who, while usually being very nice people, have a difficult time being logical, and gangs.

Still a great place to live.

Dave

Oh! And LaShawn, you’ll have to pay a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. It’s a special place!

The troubling thing about Southern California is the wildfires. Even if they don’t come close, they’re frightening.

Carlotta, is Machu Picchu restaurant still in business? It was one of our favorites when we lived in Sandy Eggo.

I’m in Oceanside (North San Diego County), and we’re having a hot and humid day (78 with 67% humidity). We even had 5 minutes of the fat rain that comes in a heat storm.

Sharprightturn’s list is good for the SD area(definitely Julian in October for the Apple Festival), but I’d add the Embarcadero (SD’s harbor front) with a visit to the USS Midway and lunch or dinner at Anthony’s Fish Grotto.

As for beaches, I’m partial to Oceanside and Carlsbad. In Orange County, Newport Beach is better than Huntington Beach. In LA, Manhattan Beach is the favorite of a friend of mine more familiar with that area. She said Santa Monica’s beach used to be good, but there’s never anyplace to spread out a beach towel anymore.

In the North SD County area, good churches are Lighthouse Christian Church (mine) and North Coast Church (there’s also a North Coast Calvary Chapel and a North Coast Presbyterian Church to keep people confused). North Coast Church has a lot of activities for non-college-age singles that are fun. And my friends and I go out to lunch and usually a movie after church many Sundays, and you’re more than welcome to join us! You too, Carlotta!!!

I have only been to California and its west coast side once for a conference in Anaheim back in 2004. It was November and back home, the Philly area was experiencing early cold (high of 30 degrees) weather. I wished I could have transported my house to an Anaheim neighborhood and put a Southern California Spanish stucco facade on the outside of the house. That would have been so nice to live there.

Well, great for you! Just don’t stop blogging.

I stopped reading politblogs for a while and am starting back up, beginning with yours. We just left CA for TX (it was a God thing).

CA needs more voices like yours, undoubtedly. Whether you love or hate it (or where ever you decide to hang your hat) will be totally up to you. It has to be great to have your sister close by, though!

Thankfully, So. Calif. isn’t all like you see in the movies or Real Housewives of OC. Lots of the big draws were mentioned here already, but you might want to take the time to check out things like missions (San Juan Capistrano area…take the train), weekend farmers markets (nice one at UC, Irvine), old town Orange and nearby Tustin.

Someone mentioned Cambria…love it there. If it’s around, eat at Robin’s. Fond memories of that town.

So. Cal. has a lot of chapters of Young Republicans as well as Republican Women Federated if you lean towards groups like that. You can’t beat the home of the Minutemen, can you

Welcome to the jungle baby.

Ah, California….where a Hazmat team needs to be called when you break a light bulb!