Comments on: My town is nicer than I thought! http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/ Practical Lifestyle Advice for Homemakers and Home Owners Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:50:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: David H Dennis http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-343 David H Dennis Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:04:13 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-343 This reminds me of the Watts Towers - the same wild eccentricity and creativity with materials considered worthless by the average person. I took these pictures in 1999 when I lived in Los Angeles: http://cgi.amazing.com/david/portfolio/watts-towers/ I took them with a Canon XL1 digital video camera - state of the art at the time but sadly lacking today. But I still think the pictures give you a pretty good idea of what they were like when I saw them. Of course that house that was $1.5 million in Newport Beach is today over $3.5 million. Darned real estate prices. D This reminds me of the Watts Towers - the same wild eccentricity and creativity with materials considered worthless by the average person.

I took these pictures in 1999 when I lived in Los Angeles:

http://cgi.amazing.com/david/portfolio/watts-towers/

I took them with a Canon XL1 digital video camera - state of the art at the time but sadly lacking today. But I still think the pictures give you a pretty good idea of what they were like when I saw them.

Of course that house that was $1.5 million in Newport Beach is today over $3.5 million. Darned real estate prices.

D

]]> By: David H Dennis http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-342 David H Dennis Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:58:46 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-342 There was that song ... Do you know the way to San Jose? ... I'm going back to find ... some peace of mind in San Jose .... you can really breathe in San Jose they have a lot of space ... there will be a place I can stay .... The cheapest house in San Jose is $315,000. Median price's $600,000+. And then if you want to find some space, how about six acres? http://www.realtor.com/realestate/san+jose-ca-95148-1089423428/ Pretty darn cool. But not exactly affordable housing, no? The amount of peace of mind you would find in that tech mecca is best left to the imagination. Whenever I hear that song I am profoundly amused by how much things change. D There was that song …

Do you know the way to San Jose?
…
I’m going back to find …
some peace of mind in San Jose
….
you can really breathe in San Jose
they have a lot of space …
there will be a place I can stay
….

The cheapest house in San Jose is $315,000. Median price’s $600,000+. And then if you want to find some space, how about six acres?

http://www.realtor.com/realestate/san+jose-ca-95148-1089423428/
Pretty darn cool. But not exactly affordable housing, no?

The amount of peace of mind you would find in that tech mecca is best left to the imagination.

Whenever I hear that song I am profoundly amused by how much things change.

D

]]> By: Toby Wollin http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-316 Toby Wollin Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:14:42 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-316 Never teh - I once did a trip to San Jose, CA and wandered into a Japanese store in their version of "Japan Town" and talked to the owner, who'd lived in San Jose since just after WWII. She told me that up until Silicon Valley took off, San Jose was a sleepy little pretty college town (San Jose State), with lost of off beat housing for students and young marrieds. After Silicon Valley -- people were renting out their livingrooms to students who were sleeping on the floors. So, treasure your place while you have it! Never teh - I once did a trip to San Jose, CA and wandered into a Japanese store in their version of “Japan Town” and talked to the owner, who’d lived in San Jose since just after WWII. She told me that up until Silicon Valley took off, San Jose was a sleepy little pretty college town (San Jose State), with lost of off beat housing for students and young marrieds. After Silicon Valley — people were renting out their livingrooms to students who were sleeping on the floors. So, treasure your place while you have it!

]]> By: Never teh Bride http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-315 Never teh Bride Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:59:20 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-315 Ooh, that's something I never thought of, Eilish. I do like living among families -- my block is crawling with kids of all ages, and I like the artsy stuff -- my town is home to an arts college. I wonder how the prosperity really spreading would change those things... Ooh, that’s something I never thought of, Eilish. I do like living among families — my block is crawling with kids of all ages, and I like the artsy stuff — my town is home to an arts college. I wonder how the prosperity really spreading would change those things…

]]> By: Carol http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-313 Carol Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:52:51 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-313 I want the room with the grand piano and library. Really, I could live in just that one room. Especially if it also has a fireplace.....sheer Heaven! I want the room with the grand piano and library. Really, I could live in just that one room. Especially if it also has a fireplace…..sheer Heaven!

]]> By: Eilish http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-312 Eilish Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:10:44 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-312 This is an interesting post. My mother grew up in Marin County, CA, just across the bay from San Francisco. My grandmother still lives in what is best described as a cottage in a very bohemian area. I never thought much of visiting my relatives or thought they lived in a particularly ritzy area while I was growing up, it just seemed very homey and normal. Now, of course, my grandmother's cottage is probably worth a million dollars and there are very few families in her neighborhood because only very wealthy people can live there. As a long time Marin resident, she is dismayed by the change because she feels like it has led to a much less friendly (particularly to young families) community. It's a shame. This is an interesting post. My mother grew up in Marin County, CA, just across the bay from San Francisco. My grandmother still lives in what is best described as a cottage in a very bohemian area. I never thought much of visiting my relatives or thought they lived in a particularly ritzy area while I was growing up, it just seemed very homey and normal.

Now, of course, my grandmother’s cottage is probably worth a million dollars and there are very few families in her neighborhood because only very wealthy people can live there. As a long time Marin resident, she is dismayed by the change because she feels like it has led to a much less friendly (particularly to young families) community. It’s a shame.

]]> By: buttercup http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-311 buttercup Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:19:54 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/01/30/my-town-is-nicer-than-i-thought/#comment-311 What a verdant yard that is, overlooking the lake. The upkeep would be difficult, but on a warm summer's afternoon it must be an intensely pleasant place to frolic. What a verdant yard that is, overlooking the lake. The upkeep would be difficult, but on a warm summer’s afternoon it must be an intensely pleasant place to frolic.

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