California's Central Valley

I live in the southern part of the valley.
I really like living here because it has a very town feel to it although it is growing more and more each day... it is still considered a sort of quiet place to live. I like the diversity that is available to me by living in the central valley. Here I live in a town like place... but drive a few minutes and I'm in a ranch with cornfields, horses, dairies... etc...

Driving to the north of me is Sacramento, to the west is Monterey/Big Sur where I can get a coastal feel... to the east of me are the mountains... to the south of me is Los Angeles/Hollywood. All of them are about 2 1/2 to 3 hours depending on which direction I go.


The Central Valley has a lot of agriculture and because of that there are many farmers market where people can go and buy organic stuff grown here in the valley, there are a lot of cute fruit stands that make you feel like you have stepped back in time... it's really neat.

This old educational video give you an idea of how agriculture is in the valley. Try not to fall asleep



This video shows the variety of things to see and do all within 3 hours distance or less.

Sounds like a great place to live Carol! I have an aunt that lives in Carmel and I'd love to go visit her someday. Fact is, I don't know if I'd actually want to live in California, as beautiful as it is...I get kind of freaked out by earthquakes and natural disasters. Michigan is kind of a 'safe' place to live...rarely a tornado touching down, no hurricanes or earthquakes, and we don't have to worry about sharks in the Great Lakes! LOL! Yep, I'm kind of a weenie that way!

It sounds like a very beautiful place to live, Carol! Lots of beautiful images are in that second video.

Amy wrote:

Fact is, I don't know if I'd actually want to live in California, as beautiful as it is...I get kind of freaked out by earthquakes and natural disasters.

Actually... a lot of the central valley is not really prone to earthquakes... there may be small ones I'm sure because the state literally shakes 365 days a year, lol... but the ones here in the central valley are hardly felt.
Natural disasters like fires... mostly occur in southern california....
Nothing bad has really happened here in the nineteen years I've lived here...

Now when I lived in southern california... I did experience some earthquakes and so many aftershocks. When the earthquake is small... it's kind of an exciting feeling and really reminds you of how powerless we are lol

Yeah, even though I love where I live, I'm not one of those who think their state is the best or whatever... lol
I like to consider myself a 'world citizen' as I think every part of the world has it's beauty with a lot of neat things to see and do. Wouldn't it be neat to actually be able to travel and see a lot of wonders of the world like Niagara Falls, The Northern Lights, Machu Picchu, etc....

:pilot:

I feel that way about Michigan, Carol,...I do love its beauty and changing seasons, but I can appreciate so many other places too.

Speaking of the Northern Lights, I would LOVE to go to Copper Harbor this year. I'm wondering, all you Michiganders, have you been there before? I've heard it's just incredible:

http://www.copperharbor.org/

No, I've never been there, Amy. It sure does look beautiful.

Of course I don't think that I want to go in the winter though. It says that they have 33 inches of snow on the ground now, and that 248.2 inches have fallen so far. :faint2:

:sleep: Are the vidoes over yet? Oh Carol!! Where did you come from? You scared me half to death!!

Seriously, there got some beautiful sceneries. I especially love the moutain views. Thank you for posting those gorgeous videos.

pamh36 wrote:

Of course I don't think that I want to go in the winter though. It says that they have 33 inches of snow on the ground now, and that 248.2 inches have fallen so far. :faint2:

Yeah, I suppose we'd have to be insane to go there in the winter! We were seriously thinking about sending my son to Michigan Tech, but the idea of driving up there or him driving home to us for visits/holidays in bad weather just didn't set well with me. And it's just SOOOOOoooooo isolated!

Carol, I forgot to comment on your videos! Can I just say, the first one I felt like I was back in middle school! LOL! I really liked the second one though...that's some jammin' music right there! (bummer, no banjo player smiley!)

Lily wrote:

:sleep: Are the vidoes over yet? Oh Carol!! Where did you come from? You scared me half to death!!

If you fell asleep... that's okay!... I have another I can put on specially just for you.

Amy wrote:

Carol, I forgot to comment on your videos! Can I just say, the first one I felt like I was back in middle school! LOL!

I know. I remember when they would put videos like that in school... they would turn off the lights, hearing the man's voice throught the entire video... oh man... it was just the perfect setting for nap time or pass notes with friends. :haha:

Lily wrote:

Are the vidoes over yet? Oh Carol!! Where did you come from? You scared me half to death!!

Amy wrote:

Carol, I forgot to comment on your videos! Can I just say, the first one I felt like I was back in middle school! LOL!

Hey kiddos! Exciting news!! Class is back in session! Lily, hit the lights! Amy... turn on the projector!