We have been in California for a full four months now and have made a few observations. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. We have had a good time and don't regret the time we have spent here but some things just rubbed us the wrong way.
Over the years we have always heard about how much food stuffs comes from California. There is talk about abundant produce and Pacific Ocean seafood. I once heard that California produces most of the almonds sold in the U.S. We have even heard California called "America's breadbasket". Well I have to say rubbish! The produce available here is far from top quality and the prices are ridiculous! If you want to see top notch produce at ridiculously LOW prices go to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. I know a lot of it comes from Mexico but at least it is there, edible, and affordable.
Seafood is nonexistent in this part of California. It is sad when the best seafood restaurant in the area is Red Lobster. Shrimp that we buy in the store is mostly of the Gulf Coast variety which can be bought in Florida or Texas for half the price when it is on sale. Not to mention there are plenty of good seafood restaurants in Texas and you can't swing a "dead cat" without hitting one in Florida.
In my quest to eat a little healthier I have for a number of years always kept almonds handy as a healthy snack to keep me from eating too much junk. Yes we shop the sales which pop up on a regular basis when we are in either Florida or Texas. No such sale has even shown up as a blip on our sale shopping radar since we have been in Petaluma. Trust me we have been looking and it just hasn't happened. I guess not all the nuts are living here in California. The almonds seem to have gotten out.
Speaking of "nuts", the people here may have the highest concentration of entitled mind set as we have ever seen. Old, young, kids...it doesn't matter. Economic status has no bearing on it either. RVers in $500,000 motor homes or people sleeping in the back of their car all come in expecting an ass-kissing from everyone who works in the park. Since this is a service oriented business the customer is always right. The catering to, the verbal abuse, and the ridiculous expectations are like none we have experienced before.
Let me close by saying that our stay here in California has been interesting, we have made friends, and we have had fun but I will say that we have seen enough and probably will not return. We would most definitely not choose this as a place to settle down and stay. We have about a month left here and will be making the most of our time before we hit the road. So I will sign of now from our home here in Petaluma because.....
Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary
Wow ... interesting reading, thanks for the insights. (Not that California has ever been on our radar to make home either). At least you can say -- been there, done that and mark it off the big map of places.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, so you've authenticated what we all already know. Nothing but nuts in California and even the fruit is drying up and headed east it sounds like. Love the blog Frank, keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteJohn and Mia
WOW! Knew you both were really looking forward to California, Bay Area the most. Glad you got to experience the culture, see the sights, get to Yosemite and the Coast most of all. Sure hope you're able to make the most out of time left there. Know you two have had experiences practically all over our Nation, some bad, most GREAT. What's that saying about Lemons/Lemonade? Maybe the 'entitlement' is just the Bay Area, but who knows? There are areas of California I hope to visit, and maybe one day soon actually will do so.
ReplyDeleteSure hope that the remaining days in California are uneventful for you two. Schools are back in Session, no more major National Holidays to concern yourselves with, just enjoy the sights and sounds of Northern California, maybe spend some time in Oregon if you have time to venture North before you return to Pharr, TX