As you may know, my blog is currently involved with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 10th Edition. I'm doing a lot of writing on the blog for this month and I'm a bit insecure about it at times. Like am I going to finish well and on time?
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
The co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken.
April 3 question: If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)
My move to California might have been like one of those blurted ideas. That was over 25 years ago and I guess it turned out okay. Like anything there are good sides and there are bad sides. Now I smile to recall those old song lyrics that stated "California's the place you oughta be" with the ironic thought that I had moved here from East Tennessee.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to sound like a bad sport since I made my decisions in life and need to deal with them one way or another and accept the consequences as they are dealt. California is cool in many ways. The weather is generally pretty nice. One has access to a variety of options when living in an urban area.
So I guess I shouldn't complain as long as I can get on my computer to keep up with blogging.
But what if I didn't have working internet? And no power? That would likely mean that the power was out all around me. Maybe the whole Los Angeles area and even all of California. That would have to be the result of some major catastrophic event. Food would quickly be gone from the shelves and fuel would be difficult if not impossible to find. We'd be trapped in a major metropolitan area running out of our personal stores of food until we were looted and maybe even killed.
I really shouldn't think about this kind of stuff, but my thoughts go wild. It's California. That's what it is.
Now I do feel a bit insecure about my writing. The computer is still on, but for how long?
Do you feel secure in the community where you live? How do you think your household would fare in the event of catastrophic infrastructure fail that left you without power and running water? Would you consider California on your wish list of places to settle down?
I moved to China few years ago and say the same thing. It had its great points, but I was totally out of my element and after two years just had to get out. China sucked. It was an adventure, but it sucked. I now live in Vietnam and am much happier.
ReplyDeleteI am at Transformed Nonconformist. I usually write humor pieces, but I am getting serious this month. I'm writing about people who have deeply impacted my life.
Brett, I'm adventurous to some extent but moving totally out of my element is more adventure than I'm up for especially at this time of my life. I like the A to Z theme you've chosen.
DeleteLee
That train of thought did take a wild turn, Lee!
ReplyDeleteAlex, sometimes I get to thinking about something and my mind goes off on tangents. That's me the writer.
DeleteLee
Dad had a saying....Nice place to visit but wouldn't wanna live there. So it goes for me. Home is home, where I am with family and those who lift us up. That would be our saving grace in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Finnell
@randallbychance from
Katy Trail Creations
Katy, CA would be a nice place to live if a lot of the visitors would leave. Not having enough family here is something that makes me want to move.
DeleteLee
One thing I've always envied about Americans is the wide range of climates they can choose from. In Canada, you have wet cold or dry cold. Sure, it's warm in the summer, but the winters are pretty much miserable everywhere, in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to live somewhere like California or Florida. Shame so many serial killers hail from there.
JH, we do have the range of climates, but Canada is pretty nice from my experience. If I had a lot of money I wouldn't mind living there. CA probably has a lot of serial killers because a lot of people out here are just plain crazy and driving the rest of us crazy too.
DeleteLee
No need for a lot of money, unless you have your sights set on Vancouver or Toronto. Your dollar is worth way more than ours, and getting sick won't break you financially. A lot is said about our health care and whether it's actually "better," but knowing an illness won't render you destitute is a comfort.
DeleteJH, if I lived in Canada I'd prefer to be somewhere in Ontario or the Okanagan Valley in BC. But I don't think that would ever happen. If anything I just want to live closer to my kids in NJ.
DeleteLee
I feel aok in my area. We have lost power for 26 hrs back I. 2004 and it’s funny how much one relies on the computer and tv etc.. but what I loved is that my mom and I just went on our veranda and had a great conversation. What was nice is everyone else went on t(sir porches and were communicating. How about that! People were talking and were enjoying the outside. As for California....nope, I wouldn’t want to live there. Between droughts, earthquakes, mudslides, fires and just plain heat....I love my 4 seasons. Well, spring seems to be optional here as it will often go from cold to way too hot in a day.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, usually when I've lost power it's when I'm here by myself and that gets kind of weird. If my cell phone has enough charge I'll sometimes call someone, otherwise I just go to bed if it's dark. Fortunately the power has gone out only a few times and it was for 6 hours or less.
DeleteLee
I've long loved the idea of living in San Francisco, but it's supposed to be very expensive. I've also heard how California bureaucracy is at least as back as that of New York State, like they're competing to see which state is worse.
ReplyDeleteCarrie-Anne, if we had a different government in place I think things here would be much better. San Francisco is not on my list of places to live even if I could afford it.
DeleteLee
Not to mention burning up! I've visited CA and even lived there for 6 months, but guess I'm an east coast gal, even if I am in Ohio for the moment!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I've lived in several places around the country. San Diego was a great place to live when I was a kid in the early 60's. Now Ohio sounds okay by me--back to my birth state.
DeleteLee
I live in Rochester, NY which is free from a lot of natural disasters (usually) like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes even though we've had some serious wind storms that have knocked lots of trees down recently. With a great lake two miles to the north, I guess we have a potential water source, but I wouldn't want to be stuck here in the winter without electricity.
ReplyDeleteTamara, Rochester can get some big snows--I remember being there at such a time back around 1965.
DeleteLee
Maybe that will be the earthquake that separates CA from the rest of the US?
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, I hope there's no big earthquakes where I live, but it's something on many of Californians' minds. If the state gets separated from the U.S. it's probably not going to be an earthquake that does it.
DeleteLee
While growing up in a (tiny) town in New Mexico, it was my fondest wish to live in California. Of course, here in Alabama we're under the threat of tornadoes -- but all in all I'm absurdly happy here among simple/conservative/genuine folks. My hubby (who originally hails from Chicago) has even supposed, if push ever comes to shove, he feels safe, surrounded by thse gun-toting, flag-waving rednecks. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMyra, mostly I feel safe where I live, but I'm concerned about the future. I'd rather be somewhere back where you are.
DeleteLee
Your comments about conflict and insecurity certainly put my doubts about writing into perspective. May your computer never lose power.
ReplyDeleteGail, we are so dependent on computers and all of our other electrical gear.
DeleteLee
I live in a small, small town. We tend to lump together and take what comes. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Anna, small towns have their charm and other benefits, but the city gives more access to more services and products. There is a lot of anonymity here.
DeleteLee
I REALLY wanted to join the A-Z this year, but couldn't think of anything to write about. Blogging is my slump right now and I don't like it.
ReplyDeleteTeresa, you couldn't think of anything to write about? I think you could have thought of something, but I completely understand being in a slump. I'm having to force myself to blog right now.
DeleteLee
My husband and I once talked about what would happen if an EMP bomb hit the US with enough force to knock everything out. He said my brother and his family would probably survive longer than we would, since we are so technology-centric, while my brother lives on a farm and raises his own pigs. I think it's best not to dwell long on it, otherwise the panic starts to creep in.
ReplyDeleteLoni, I've thought about this sort of stuff since I was a kid growing up in the atomic bomb scare 50's and 60's. The topic intrigues me more than scares me. A lot of people are so dependent on societal structure these days that loss of infrastructural elements would likely be devastating.
DeleteLee
Well, I feel reasonably secure here in Ohio. Our only regular natural disasters are tornadoes and usually we know when they're likely. The crime rate for our community is low and there's farm land around if we should suddenly have to grow our own food. But no internet? I'm not sure I could survive that.
ReplyDeleteLD, I once decided that I'd never need a computer and now I'm dependent upon it. Crazy!
DeleteLee
Sometimes I think having the online connection to go down would be a blessing. There's so much more in this world to do; however, here I am typing a comment on a blog.
ReplyDeleteC.Lee, I agree with you. I often think about making a break from TV and internet, but decide not now.
DeleteLee
Wow, you really get down to the nitty gritty, don't you? Okay, so let me jump in without a life jacket & go one by one... Do you feel secure in the community where you live? ** Yes, about 90% secure because I don't think you can feel 100% secure anywhere anymore now can you. I use to live in neighborhoods that WOW... Don't let me get into that one. How do you think your household would fare in the event of catastrophic infrastructure fail that left you without power and running water? ** Well, I have candles, batteries plenty of flashlights from big to tiny. I have plenty of bottled water both distilled & drinking for various reasons. I would just have to conserve & as far as food I also have plenty of can goods. Would you consider California on your wish list of places to settle down? **AIN'T NO WAY! Last I heard it was falling into the ocean... isn't it? But then again can't believe everything you read now can you? Have a great day my friend!
ReplyDeleteDolly, well, I don't have a lot of concern about falling into the ocean and mostly I feel safe where I am. We have a lot of supplies stocked up, but if things were down for an extended period like weeks then it would get very very bad unless some agency or something came to the rescue.
DeleteLee
I would have to remove 50-60 % of current residents and damn all the politicians before I would consider a California move. Bad enough here in Indiana where I agree with most everybody...
ReplyDeleteCW, I'm with you about those percentages though maybe I'd take it higher. I'm just waiting for the various government out here to come up with some really weird stuff. Like forcing those of us with spare bedrooms to take in homeless or illegals. Maybe I'd better not put out these ideas lest someone see them and put them into action. Hope I can pick my own "house guests".
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteYou have fired up an interesting idea. What would happen if the internet disappeared (in apocalyptic fashion) .....from a blogging perspective? Us Bloggers would still have ideas in our heads bursting to get out for one reason or another. We have things to say. Would we turn to speech platforms? Revive the printing press? I'm not sure, but I would like to spend some time contemplating this! Thanks for the idea to a "tree in the forest!" Zulu Delta
Zulu, the possibilities are endless I'm sure. Hope it never happens for real, but it could be a great dystopian franchise.
DeleteLee
Emergency preparedness is a big thing in our church so I'd like to think we would ok for a while. To respond to Zulu Delta's comment above, I read a fascinating book called "The President is Missing" recently and it touched on the idea of the internet being down and the calamities that would bring.
ReplyDeletehttps://seal-of-melchizedek.blogspot.com/2019/04/dallas-texas-temple.html
Duncan, preparing for an emergency is a good idea, but some things are never anticipated or expected. I'd like to think the people in my community would all be nice and cooperative with each other, but some circumstances can bring out the worst in some people. It just takes a few of those people to create a nightmarish situation.
DeleteLee
I've visited California many times over the years and have three kids who live there, but I'd never move there willingly. The cost of living and the congestion are the main reasons. Our little piece of Colorado is working out just fine.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I've been doing research and I'm finding that in SW Virginia I can find a house comparable or better with more land that would cost half or less as ours here is worth. Colorado wouldn't be bad, but I'd still have the issue of being too far from my family.
DeleteLee
I've lived in California my whole life and until recently couldn't think of living anywhere else, to the point of not even moving across the bay so my husband wouldn't have to commute 1/2 an hour to work. We live within a stone's throw of the SF airport and I love going into the city for visits but I'd hate to live there. We have visited the in-laws in Oregon and someplace like that might be nice or down in the Boulder Creek (CA) area but other than that, I'm staying put.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Janet, for now I'm staying put as well--just waiting for the opening that takes me elsewhere.
DeleteLee
I maybe would have until reading this! I suppose you're talking about the earthquake risk. Thing is, there's risks everywhere, whether natural or man-made. You're taking a chance every day you wake up. I'd say, just enjoy the weather and the lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteNick, the earthquake risk has always been on my mind. The real risk that concerns me these days can happen anywhere--political upheaval and attacks on infrastructure (internet, utilities, phone, etc). Unlike a natural disaster, those types of events might lead to more paranoia, distrust, and criminal activity in an urban area. I'd rather be in a less urban area. Nevertheless, I'm okay so far.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee!
ReplyDeleteHaving been raised where the sun is as hot as a campfire; cooled by the warmth of the moon when not every shadow is your neighbor, and snakes that can walk don’t slither, I’m used to expecting anything, always. Que sera, sera.
In the meantime, I appreciate my computer very much – as does anyone who has ever tried to read my handwriting ;-) We are all quite attached to our devices; things that make us feel connected to the world even as we ignore those in the same room.
A world without technology is indeed thought-provoking. If in fact, happiness consists not in the multitude of friends but in a few well-chosen, who then would I want to walk in a silent world with? I guess I’ll ponder that on my next road trip ;-)
Diedre, when the power has gone off for an extended period I become more aware of how much I depend (or really like having) the conveniences of technology.
DeleteLee
You got me thinking - panicking - having moved from small town North Wales to a city close to Yellowstone. Okay, my wife's family are here..............
ReplyDeleteRoland, you're right close to that super underground volcano or whatever it is. When that blows you're likely gone, but no worry--the rest of us will soon join you.
DeleteLee