Okay. Truth? About why I haven't been posting very often lately? Well, I'm actually in the process of moving to southern California. Why, you might ask. Well, to quote America's newest annoyingly addictive smut television show, Gossip Girl, "that is a secret I'll never tell." Okay, I'll probably tell, but just not yet. In this world of cyber-space, cyber-talking, cyber-banking and cyber-stalking, it's tricky to keep a secret. We'll see how long this one lasts.
But I digress. Where was I? Oh, right, I'm in the middle of moving. And I have been spending basically ALL my time trying to find a place to live, to little avail thus far. The problem is exaserbated by the fact that I'm a picky bitch, not to mention relatively sociably inept. But here is what I've learned so far.
1. There are a LOT of people in California
2. Urban camping = not fun
3. There are a lot of crazy people in California
There's more, but let me just give you a couple of examples:
1. My favorite housing ad on Craigslist: "Looking for a cute, young female to cook, clean, and give massages...." Right.
2. Last night three people tried to walk off with my dog. There I was, innocently sleeping in a campground while my dog innocently lounged outside, when I wake to hear people talking softly to my dog. Something about the situation struck me as odd, maybe because it was the middle of the night, but I watched while they quietly picked him up and started walking away. Suddenly all my shyness was gone.
"Hey!" I yelled. "Whoa there. Put my dog down. You can't just walk off with my dog."
"Oh, we thought he was lost." The lone girl of the group said. "We're glad that he's not."
"Uh-huh well, he's wearing a collar and was laying by my car. Doesn't seem too lost to me."
Seriously. That's how it went. Luckily they put him down and walked away, dreads swinging and patchouli scenting the air. I'm glad that hippies are non-violent.
Yup. It's been an interesting couple of weeks.
Basically, I'm a little overwhelmed. We're not in Moab anymore, Cody. Hopefully something will pop up soon and I will be able to get back to climbing and blogging about climbing instead of urban encounters.
woodchuck07 says:
Hey, that was my Craigslist ad!! And I'm not even in CA.
Southern Cal? Huh? Leave lovely Moab? Trade the desert away for the beach? Take up surfing? Work on those social skills out in la'la' land? Become a 21st century hippie? I just can't see it, Katie living in southern California. Unless it's in the truck at JT for a few months. Best of luck in your latest travel. How can anyone afford the gas this summer anyway.
gssettles says:
The last time I was in S CA there was so much garbage lying everywhere, too many people and no one seemed to care about any of it. I decided not to go back. GOOD LUCK!!!!
Jimn72 says:
Good God. Why would you move there for any amount of money or anything at all. Doesn't seem like your cup of tea.
woodchuck07 says:
People, keep the comments coming! We gotta save Katie from this move. Talk her out of it the best you can. Her fate is in our hands!! AND anyone got a great spot for her to move to, suggestions welcome. /;-)
ped says:
I've urban camped in LA. I was so poor that I had to bum money to make a phone call to bum even more money to get home. Turns out, the vagrants were the most generous of all. One guy gave us 50 cents. Two quarters and a glob of lint was all he had in his pocket. Nice guy.
I know I'm going to catch a lot of crap for this, but I actually like S Cali, even LA. There's definitely some good climbing to be had: JTree, Tahquitz, New Jack City. Red Rocks isn't too far. Yosemite is up the way a bit.
Enjoy and good luck!
woodchuck07 says:
Oh ped, I agree there is some fine climbing nearby. It's the life in LaLa land that is no good. AND expensive to live anywhere near the main cities in SoCal. I say she heads to the desert, or live in Slab City, maybe even near Bishop or somewhere a bit out of the way. I would guess only a die hard surfer would find it difficult not to be by the ocean.
gratefuljoe says:
i can get you a place out in Pasadena i work for a guy who has a ass tone of places and he has a climbing gym that i run so what i am saying is he has a soft spot for climbers let me know if you want his number and it is 1 hour from jtree , 4.1 from the valley and a tun of other good spot with in a hour. joe de luca
woodchuck07 says:
Question G-Joe: Do they allow dogs? Katie has her 'pup too. Hope it's a nice, quiet, private kind of place that she can enjoy.
gratefuljoe says:
they have some places that do allow dog's the place they got me is quit nice it came with a backer latter and the house was built in 1890's its was a grate find for my girlfriend and i but i do hate southern ca. but as a climber and a surfer it is hard to move away ca. has so much all around you, i have lived all over the usa and the world but i keep coming back to ca. its like a bad drug habit you just crave it no matter how bad you want to go you will want to come back "shit i need to move"
woodchuck07 says:
Well I hope Katie is reading all these helpful tips/;-) Pasadena is a nice area, Escondido, and some surrounding San Diego is OK, but no way would I go near LA. Rugged outdoorswomen life waay north of San Fran, along the coast in the woods, etc. But not sure there is much rock up there, except big mountains like Shasta.
JR says:
JR
"dude, i bet u she's getting marry in LA"- just kidding
woodchuck07 says:
No please, don't break our hearts with such thoughts!!!
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