A purpose of our US tour is to visit and revisit some potential relocation places. The first week we revisited Santa Barbara, Ventura, and our much-loved, idyllic Ojai. Ojai was the backdrop for Frank Capra’s film Lost Horizon, the scenes of the villagers of Shangri-La. Historically known as a place of Art, Spirituality, and Health it was the place that Krishnamurti, the famous philosopher, made home and created a retreat center and children’s school, both of which still continue and thrive. It is a small town with 8,500ish residents and as I heard one Rasta man in town state, “Everyday here is just another day in paradise.” We love it and would consider it a new home for our family minus one thing.
So what is the issue? An issue that you, me, and the rest of the US should be concerned with – Fresh water. The drought conditions are Exceptional, 2-steps worse than Severe and 1-step worse than Extreme. In the US drought monitoring system Exceptional is the lowest category so, it may get worse but categorically it has already hit rock bottom. Maybe some think let Hollywood dry up (maybe it already has), who cares? There are much more important exports from the Golden State then movies and TV. Named the land of fruits and nuts, for more than one reason, Cali produces over 50% percent of the fruit, veggies, and nuts for the US. I am a strong proponent for local, organic food but at present the infrastructure is not in place in all areas to feed the masses by these methods and like NJ, some states have cold winters! Americans NEED rain in Cali.
We next enjoyed our time in California as we explored the southern coast – Lugina Beach, San Clemente, and one of our favorites Ja Jolla. In the past we have been in Costa Rica in the dry season just before the rainy season and there is a tension for the locals as they await the rainy season but, after all, as of yet it always comes. Conversely here people all seemed happily going about their business. It was however ever present on our minds. We could not help but ask people we encountered their take on the water issues. Shockingly most everyday folks seemed to be very causal about it mentioning that there are NOW restrictions on watering lawns and such. Maybe like most global warming issues it is just to big for people to wrap their heads around so instead they just … wait for the rainy season.
Living Wherever We Are 