Trip to the Big City

[plowhog]

Went to Oakland, CA yesterday to review a unique wall and door system for our new residence. The trip reminded me why I like Rural Living.

Traffic was a nightmare, of course. Bumper to bumper on I-80 in both directions. We finished our visit and departed at 1:30pm. Leaving by 1:30 apparently just misses the "afternoon commute" when the freeway jams up even worse. We were told if we waited another 30 minutes to leave it would add several more hours to travel the same distance-- due to sitting in a traffic snarl that barely moves.

We used the Ashby Avenue on-ramp onto I-80. This is quite a long on-ramp, and the entire length was "populated." The attached picture only shows one small part of a very long encampment.

It was a good reminder how much we enjoy Rural Living compared to the "Big City"!!

 

[RNeumann]

Have you ever put cat food and water outside? Hint- you get more than cats......

 

[wagne223]

I have read a few articles about the large number of people living in the streets in some areas of CA.

If you move this to politics we can discuss why.

Otherwise, yes getting away from cities is good for the soul.

 

[plowhog]

Otherwise, yes getting away from cities is good for the soul.

I discovered rural living late in my life. Now I realized I missed a lot. I will leave the city people to figure out their issues while I focus on how to best care for my rural property. I get a great deal of valuable help in this forum regarding property care and use of equipment.

I usually enjoy and participate in political argumentation. But I not participating in the Politics forum that exists here. Discussions there get hijacked by a couple of people who constantly engage in an online food fight based on name-calling of others. When you read: "turkey neck just betrayed President Cheeto" .... well, enough said.

 

[crashz]

I was a country boy, moved to a mid sized city while in college and stayed for 15 years. I can honestly say there is good and bad to both life styles. My "city" living was really suburban. I drove by our old house just last night. It was on a 1/4 acre and in the midst of a real neighborhood. I miss that part.

But I needed space. Felt closed in all the time. SO much nicer in NH.

Still fight traffic though. I'm now one of the faceless masses that commutes into MA from NH for work. We are a large, sad bunch.

 

[Stimw]

How about an old song by Buck Owens-
1970
I wouldn't live in NY City

It ain't nothin' but a concrete jungle with people packed like sardines
Where everybody's tryin' to live beyond their means
Where all the natives hurry and scurry too and fro
And like a fleas on a puppy dog they got no place to go.

I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town
Talk about a bummer it's the biggest one around
Sodom and Gommorah was tame to what I found
I wouldn't live in New York City if they gave me the whole dang town.

Well, I ain't seen the sunshine since the day that I arrived
'Cause brother I've been busy a-tryin' to survive
Nobody knows you've been here till you're six feet under ground
Than you become a statistic if they remember to write you down

 

[oosik]

I live in a very rural setting that is 25 miles SW of Spokane, WA - as the crow flies. I go into Spokane once a month to shop at Costco. The last time I was or ever will be in Seattle - when I graduated from the U of W - 1965. And that's nothing against the West Side - I just do not like large cities.

 

[robbyr]

Live six miles out from a small town, population around 4,000. Hour and a half north of Houston, population never ending. Love the country life.

 

[spitter]

I moved from surbibia as soon as I could and never looked back. Everyone wanted to tell you what to do when to do it.They even made xmas decorations illeagel!!Bough a house on 5 acres in a rural part of the state my closest neighbor is about 1,000 ft. away.When I bring my kids to visit their grandma they say you grew up here??? Where did you ride your quad? Where did you shoot? I told them we never had any of that when I grew up . They Said boy you had it rough.:drink:

 

[two_bit_score]

Pack up all your dishes.
Make note of all good wishes.
Say goodbye to the landlord for me.
That son of a ***** has always bored me.
Throw out them LA papers
And that moldy box of vanilla wafers.
Adios to all this concrete.
Gonna get me some dirt road back street
If I can just get off of this LA freeway
Without getting killed or caught
I'd be down that road in a cloud of smoke
For some land that I ain't bought bought bought
Here's to you old skinny Dennis
Only one I think I will miss
I can hear that old bass singing
Sweet and low like a gift you're bringin'
Play it for me just one more time now
Got to give it all we can now
I believe everything your saying
Just keep on, keep on playing
And you put the pink card in the mailbox
Leave the key in the old front door lock
They will find it likely as not
I'm sure there's somethin' we have forgot