It's Good to be Home!

 

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 After recently returning from visiting family in LA, all the reasons I live here and not there came rushing at me the moment we got off the plane and started driving from Burbank Airport to Granada Hills.

My Aunt and Uncle have lived in their house here since moving from the Bronx in 1953.  As we live in a very mobile society, they come from a time that people very rarely left their neighborhoods.  Granada Hills back then was out the northern limit of LA County, surrounded by orange groves with few homes (they moved in to the new development in town).  Granada Hills has some famous sons:  John Elway (the other slow white Bronco, not the one in the police chase in the 90's) and Cheech Marin (just back on tour with Tommy Chong, fresh out of the pen!).

Don't get me wrong, I love my family.  It was great to see all the cousins and knock around for a few days (we have a 4 day rule for visiting and visitors, as well).  It's just the in-your-face reminder of what SoCal has become.  I always quip that California would be great if it weren't for the people (SoCal, actually).  After living in Scottsdale for over a decade the moving to the beauty of the Sierra Foothills on the outskirts of Reno (Phoenix/Scottsdale became all that is wrong with SoCal), it gives you perspective: Quality of Life vs. Lifestyle, What you have vs. what you want, Living vs. Existing.

We have a lot to be thankful for living where we do.

It's good to be home!