Today our Highlands’ Guy takes a look at Los Al from a different perspective and finds plenty to be positive about. . . eventually:

(Los Alamitos, 12/21/2012)  by Highlands’ Guy:  Sometimes we need to take a step back to get a better picture of ourselves or our subject du jour. In today’s environment we can do it virtually without ever leaving the comfort of our easy chair.

A 2,400 mile step back

My step back this time was around 2400 miles west of the intersection of Katella and Los Alamitos Blvd. Yes, it is warmer than my Highlands’  neighborhood. Yes the water is bluer than at the end of Main St. And yes, there are a couple of terrific small beaches of fine white sand with perfect lefts.

Naturally critical?

But, I must be honest, and tell you that perhaps as a function of age and the influence of a bit of local involvement, I look at all sorts of stuff more critically.

At times this attitude is a good thing and at times it bugs those around me. Let’s get down to it. I think if I had to better define what the heck I’m talking about, it would fall into the general realm of ‘infrastructure.’  And it would include, among other things; roads, utilities, schools, vector control, and perhaps code enforcement. [ad]

I would be remiss if I did not include the more obvious tenets of north Orange County and access to world-class education, health care within minutes of any of our homes, and of course, jobs.

I’ll leave the abundance of really good local watering holes and restaurants to a future blurb. Please know that I am not making judgments on others’ quality of life issues, merely pointing to the differences that I’ve encountered here and there.

Even as I sit on the front porch, having a Longboard Island Larger, and watching the sunset for the mythical Green Flash, I have to keep my critical eye in check. After all, the ten foot Christmas tree in the window behind me was decorated with care by someone who grew up in a U.S. Territory. But I did note in my mind on the way up the hill on the curvy two lane road to the farm, we pass street lights that need repair, we roll over a bunch of potholes, a few trees block my view of the next curve, and I spy an abandoned, rusted car off in the weeds.

Room to disagree:

I guess what I need to remember is that not everyone’s idea of what’s the best path is like mine.

There are a whole lot of folks who enjoy the freedom of less governmental control or intrusion. They don’t want to be confined by too many rules. That’s cool, but to my way of thinking it doesn’t translate well to the ‘big city’ of northwest Orange County. So although I may balk and take exception to much of the “nanny state” that we have in California I can appreciate some of its need in my daily maneuvering around the city.

In the small town we passed through on our way back from a hike through Waipio Valley I noticed various signs and stands where locals were selling their wares. It works here, but I venture to say, it probably would not in Los Al. Just the shear number of people that we have to deal with would make things unwieldy.

And I guess as much as I am not comfortable with our, “well, back in ‘64” folks, or those with personalities that kind of bug me, as I look out my front window and know my kids are safe and there is some order in our lives, I am happy that there is a small cadre of citizens who take the time to be involved and for the most part, do the right thing.

To summarize:

Dave, coming up with positive things to say about Los Al was really easy. But it was made even more so while being away and gaining some perspective. Maybe there is some value to political junkets to other jurisdictions, with the caveat that it is on the public dime only.

So the next time I squirm at all the rules that govern who can sell what and where, the expense of administering a vector control department, that I can’t shoot off my own fireworks, that I am restricted from raising chickens in my back yard, or that the red-light camera got me again, I will temper my thoughts knowing that police and fire response times are in minutes, the resale value of my house should be pretty darn good, my kids will want to return to the old neighborhood, and my neighbors will enjoy taking their walks even late at night.

And all is well, except for the grumpy old guy at the end of block of course.

“The only force that can overcome an idea and a faith is another and better idea and faith, positively and fearlessly upheld.”
- Dorothy Thompson. (1893-1961) Know as the First Lady of American Journalism.

…And that’s just the way I see it.