Everyone, I have been silent for a while as I made preparations to leave California for the free land of Arizona. This means that I can move forward with my publishing company which would have been unrealistic with all of California's "regulatory compliance, taxes and fees". Although I have argued for years that Southern California played a huge role in the story of the American West, it's nice to live in a place where people finally appreciate that American Pioneer legacy. The gold is long played out and the sun has set on the golden state.
Words cannot describe how exhilarating and overwhelming it has been. I have spent nearly the last 7 years living in historic Santa Ana Canyon (which virtually nobody knows or cares about the history thereof) and am now among people who love history. The last thing I want is to turn Arizona into another California and so, I am assimilating to the AZ lifestyle. It is nicer, cleaner, and more affordable here. People also seem more interested in knowing their history.
When asked by some of the millennial employees at my work, why I am leaving, I gave them this story:
"25-years ago in this same neighborhood in California, I made $13 an hour at an entry level office job; took home about $1600 a month; lived in a nice 2-story, 3-bedroom townhouse for $850 a month; my car payment was $175 a month; all my bills were about another $100; and my healthcare was a whopping $52 a month. I moved in 2-roommates for $200 each and had enough money to live the dream going to the mountains, deserts and beaches as I pleased. Now, those same townhomes are $2500 a month; the place is so crowded it takes hours to go anywhere; the beaches are too crowded to bother with; healthcare is over $500 and I won't even go there on the bills. Oh! and the best part is that the same job still pays about $12-13 an hour & requires a college degree so most people under 35 still live with their parents."
In short, I am free...the Frontier American Illustrated News and its various publications are ready to move forward...and I am now in a place that shares my passion for our Nation's legacy. Let the journey begin.
-Dave