I don't think I'd want to live there, mainly for economic reasons. I love to visit, and play tourist, but a house like mine, which I inhabit with my two canines, would cost on the order of $2E6US if it were in any of the parts of CA that I'd be willing to live in, and it's a small place.

Californians are folks who suffer from too much money.

I went to college in the Boston area, and, while I don't live there, it's one of the very few places aside from where I live now, that I'd consider. Unfortunately, housing costs are pretty high there, too.

In CA, if your income is significantly less than $10E9 per year there will be things you can't afford. At $10E6 per year, you can "get by" without being embarassed each time you order a bottle of wine in a restaurant, but can't live terribly "high on the hog," as they say.

I know Palo Alto is an appealing place, but, back when I was a student, I read that it had the highest cost of living in the U.S. I believe that syndrome has spread throughout the state. If you haven't visited lower-cost (dry) places, e.g. Wyoming, New Mexico (and I don't mean SantaFe), Arkansas, Iowa, and others, perhaps a longer visit, wherein you stay in each place long enough to sample such things as culture and living expenses, you might want to do so before settling down for a longer stay. Housing cost alone, particularly in the South Bay Area should serve as a disincentive.

Now, if you've got to go to CA, then don't overlook the SanDiego area, particularly LaJolla. It's got the benefit of the sea breeze to keep things from getting too extreme weather wise, (remember Mark Twain's remark, "The coldest winter I ever experienced was one July in San Francisco..." and consider the weather wherever you go.)

As for the fruits and nuts, aren't they on the recommended eating list? They taste just like pork, I understand, if properly prepared.

RE