California Rocks the Harris Poll!

For the sixth year in a row, California tops the list of states that Americans would choose to live in if they did not live in the states where they currently reside, according to the 2009 Harris Poll.  Florida, which was the most popular state in 2001, retains second place on the list.  Following California and Florida are Hawaii (#3), Texas (#4), and Colorado (#5).  Three states tied for 6th place: Arizona, North Carolina and Washington state.

New York City tops the list of cities that people would most like to live in or near, followed by Denver and San Francisco. 

I guess I'm a little surprised by Denver placing second for most desirable city (even before S.F.).  I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has visited or lived there as to its attributes.  Feel free to comment below!

Fire!

Several Chico Rotarians who work for the local newspaper put together a video of the recent Humboldt Fire. Northern California is on fire again from lightning strikes, with a reported 27 fires burning in Butte County alone, and many more throughout California. (Click here to view a map of fire locations.) Everyone is talking about burning eyes, throats, and pounding headaches from breathing smoke 24/7. I keep reminding myself how fortunate I am to still have my sweet little home, in spite of the normally-clear skies looking like San Bernardino on a BAD smog day. Just last weekend I was enjoying a rare few days away at Lake Madrone with friends. As we basked lakeside, enjoying the perfect temperature, we were surprised to see dark clouds rapidly moving in. That evening at sunset we took the short hike up to Bald Rock. Never having been there, I was amazed at the surrealistic beauty of the place, with its gigantic boulders overlooking the Sacramento valley, coastal range, and Sutter Buttes. There we watched as the distant lightning started fire after fire, with plumes of black smoke rising ominously like cobras from their baskets...

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