After being fed up with work, java, stupid sun classes, wonders of https and stuff like that I went on a trip. My first trip was California (surprise!), where I have not been since my first visit in `99 (that was San Diego). As there was no real reason to go to San Diego, I went to San Francisco and Santa Rosa. First thing that shocked me was the air. Yes, the air is generally fresh in Texas (especially if you are not trying to walk in rush hour on Dallas street), but when I inhaled, I felt the difference. After getting to the Santa Rosa vicinity I have realized, some people still live in the woods, and I like that. Of course, there is no DSL and local cable company might not be top notch (it's too far away from major routers etc.) But having a real forest nearby, as well as nightly temperatures of 54 F in July, does add its own charm. Of course, all this is being judged from the tourist's point of view. When you have to deal with raccoons, vicious cats that happen to be little shitting machines, and an army of small rodents you might get fed up with it. Then all beauty of environment will slip by unnoticed. But that's what vacations are for. For all other occasions there is always a change of address form (just don't forget, you need extra two zeroes or other numbers in your paycheck "total" section to move to CA). Among other wonders of CA - very nice people, extra harmonized color palette (well, you know what to expect when you see pride flags every here and there) and some really nice restaurants. In fact, simple visit to not so simple (and not very expensive) Chinese restaurant Gary Chu's has changed my idea of Chinese food from being something fast and uneventful into real exquisite dinner. When you get this level of service and this quality of food, you want to come back to the place over and over again. I have to come back next summer...