09-18-2020, 05:02 PM
(09-18-2020, 02:07 PM)rono Wrote:(09-15-2020, 10:27 AM)Shannon Wrote: California severely disappointed me the one time I tried to go camping there, back in 2011. I was trying to spend a few days at a national park there, and was told that I wasn't allowed to sleep in my car "because the bears can rip the doors off the car to get to you and your food". And what did they want me to do instead? Why, sleep in a tent, of course! Duh! This in a state where it's not even legal for me to carry a firearm to defend myself against said bears, should they decide to attack me? No thanks. I turned around and left for Washington instead. California is the land of insanity, from everything I have seen. Sad, too, because they are one of only two states in the Union who have nearly all of what I want in a state otherwise.
But yeah, disappointing in the extreme I am sure. Sounds like you guys are back on track, though!
Hi Shannon- thanks for your understanding comments. I was born and raised here in CA and spent all but 4 years of my life living here. Tough to leave. Love the weather, used to the culture and I fear everywhere else will become just like what I'm leaving in another few years.
You may have been camping in the part of the Sierras that I usually go to. The bears have been 'trained' that when they see stuff in a car (ice chests, soda cups, etc.) that this means it is worth trying to break into the car. There is now extensive signage (with graphic pictures of what happens to cars when bears can spy food items, ice chests or indications that there may be food inside.) warning of bears able to open cars like foil wrappers of some goodies inside. We have learned to be VERY careful about having food out. I've had bears approach me from behind while eating a cookie at the picnic table and playing cards. In this case he was only 10 feet away. We quietly and without sudden movement gathered our food items and trash and walked over to the trash cans a few yards away and watched. The bear climbed all over our picnic table, wandered around the campsite, then wandered off into the darkness. That was the second night we'd had a bear visit us that trip. So the bear threat is a real thing. BUT I'd never heard you can't sleep in a car if you keep your food and so one out of site. That doesn't make sense.
Add that to the LONG list of stuff in my home state that doesn't make sense. Forestry policy at the top of my list during fire season. Gas prices due to unusual requirements of the refineries another. We're looking to move, but are open to suggestions where it looks like they aren't just going to become the next California...
Well, Nebraska has almost a 0% chance of becoming the next California, lol, but you should perhaps look at Missouri. If you're an outdoorsman, there's a lot to do there. Not sure if you're looking for a larger metropolitan area, or if having a beach nearby is something you need (without a plane), but in a lot of ways, you can't beat the Midwest.
