Goodbye California! I am now an Arizona Resident.

[Tsalagidave]

Everyone, I have been silent for a while as I made preparations to leave California for the free land of Arizona. This means that I can move forward with my publishing company which would have been unrealistic with all of California's "regulatory compliance, taxes and fees". Although I have argued for years that Southern California played a huge role in the story of the American West, it's nice to live in a place where people finally appreciate that American Pioneer legacy. The gold is long played out and the sun has set on the golden state.

Words cannot describe how exhilarating and overwhelming it has been. I have spent nearly the last 7 years living in historic Santa Ana Canyon (which virtually nobody knows or cares about the history thereof) and am now among people who love history. The last thing I want is to turn Arizona into another California and so, I am assimilating to the AZ lifestyle. It is nicer, cleaner, and more affordable here.  People also seem more interested in knowing their history.

When asked by some of the millennial employees at my work, why I am leaving, I gave them this story:
"25-years ago in this same neighborhood in California, I made $13 an hour at an entry level office job; took home about $1600 a month; lived in a nice 2-story, 3-bedroom townhouse for $850 a month; my car payment was $175 a month; all my bills were about another $100; and my healthcare was a whopping $52 a month.  I moved in 2-roommates for $200 each and had enough money to  live the dream going to the mountains, deserts and beaches as I pleased.  Now, those same townhomes are $2500 a month; the place is so crowded it takes hours to go anywhere;  the beaches are too crowded to bother with; healthcare is over $500 and I won't even go there on the bills. Oh! and the best part is that the same job still pays about $12-13 an hour & requires a college degree so most people under 35 still live with their parents."

In short, I am free...the Frontier American Illustrated News and its various publications are ready to move forward...and I am now in a place that shares my passion for our Nation's legacy.  Let the journey begin.

-Dave

[Major 2]

I vote to see a wall built along the Arizona, Nevada , Oregon border....

 

[Tsalagidave]

That may not be a bad idea Major. I feel like an immigrant from a failed state arriving in a new land of opportunity...oh wait, I am.

-Dave

[Jack Straw]

Congratulations.  I left San Diego for Prescott about 9 years ago.   My only regret is that I didn't make the move 20
ears earlier.
Arizona is a wonderful state but be aware that there are a butt-load of liberals here who'd just love to make it like California and they are working hard toward that end.

[Dave T]

Welcome to Arizona. It is a state full of history and some of us still appreciate that. Look into joining the Arizona Historical Society. Theior museums and publications are worth the price of membership.

How do I find out more about this "Frontier American Illustrated News"?

Dave

[Niederlander]

Congratulations, my friend!  I know it's been a long time coming!  Best wishes to you and your wife in your new location!

[Tsalagidave]

Thank you for the kind words gentlemen,

For those interested in the Frontier American Illustrated News, I have not yet launched the website but I did a soft launch of the facebook page.  As of now it is pretty informal as I am not yet promoting it (waiting for website launch).  For now, it covers some personal photos taken while working on various articles and projects.

Here it is. https://www.facebook.com/FAINmagazine/

I hope you enjoy browsing the images.  It's not much yet but there is more to come.

Thanks

-Dave

[Abilene]

Good for you!

You should strap on a gun to wear around town one day, just to enjoy the feeling. 

[Tsalagidave]

I've conceal carried a few times before.  The nice part is that I feel so safe here that there is little reason to carry one unless I am hitting the trail.  I definitely respect the fact that an armed society is a polite society and I definitely feel it here.
The old west is alive and well and a lot nicer than what I left in California.  There are some nice Californians too but the vibe here is just better.

-Dave

[Oregon Bill]

Dave, congratulations on the move. It is even freer and simpler here in New Mexico, and the very rocks themselves ooze history.

[Tsalagidave]

As a native born and raised Californian, I never thought I'd be so happy to leave what was my home state. The cost of living is cheaper. The people seem friendlier. My 2A rights are restored. I love the climate (yes even the +115° summertime heat). I love the terrain and wide open spaces.

I don't miss driving 40-minutes to drop off my daughter at school 3-miles away; overcrowded beaches; bumper-to-bumper crawling traffic wherever you go; gas that's about $4 per gallon; Disneyland is over $100 per day and $1000 for an annual pass...and still always overcrowded; rude people; ruder drivers; higher crime, grungy urban filth & pollution and everything shy of a BB-gun seems to be on the "banned" list. A 1100 sq. foot 1946-built house in a high crime neighborhood goes for $500k and an "American Dream - Middle Class" home in Irvine sells for a Million or more.

...but other than that, I'm homesick.

-Dave

[Cliff Fendley]

Arizona is a wonderful state but be aware that there are a butt-load of liberals here who'd just love to make it like California and they are working hard toward that end.

Unfortunately I believe that is everywhere you go. This day and age there are too many people that take what we have for granted and are too easily persuaded to give it all up for an illusion of something even better.

[Dave T]

Unfortunately I believe that is everywhere you go. This day and age there are too many people that take what we have for granted and are too easily persuaded to give it all up for an illusion of something even better.

Amen.

Dave

[Tascosa Joe]

Dave:
Congratulations on your move to a free state.  I am looking forward to the products of your publishing company.
T-Joe

[Tsalagidave]

Thanks everyone, I have learned that the best thing to say is that I am a free-market economist who is solidly pro-2A and I don't want to change the way things are in Arizona.

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

Update on Arizona. I now have Arizona plates, driver license is on the way, now all I need is an Arizona job.  So far I have ranged down into Tombstone, Bisbee, The Superstition Mountains, up through Wickenberg, Kingman, Prescott, Verde Valley and Sedona. Everything from pre-Columbian to the Empire of old Spain, Mexico, and the American West.  I am situated just off the Southern Emigrant Trail with the San Tan Mountains for my backyard.

Now all I need is to put my money down on a horse property.  There are definitely a whole lot of changes to come...

-Dave

[Oregon Bill]

Dave, good luck on settling in on a horse property, and finding a well-paying, meaningful job. Arizona doesn't yet know what it gained when you moved there.

[Tsalagidave]

I really appreciate that Bill, thanks.  There seems to be plenty of opportunities. The question is which path to take.
In the meantime, I am back on track with my writing.  Now that I am out California, I do not have the restrictions that I was dealing with in starting a business.

It's looking good and I'm excited about it.

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

I have moved my "office" from a table downstairs to this new luxury abode.

[Tsalagidave]

Update on Arizona: Things are moving along nicely.  I have plugged in with some muzzle loaders at Usery Mountain gun range.  I enjoy their company and have some ideas on perpetuating the ML hobby.  Also picked up a new .54 longrifle.

While my daughter peppered the target, I sighted in. First shot was the outlier but I was able to clean it up some.