Restoring Kingdom Builders

It’s rained here in the Phoenix area the past couple of days, so I’ve been thinking about the differences between living in Arizona and living in California.

I’ve lived in Arizona for a total of 3 years and 3 months, while I’ve lived in the Golden State the rest of my life (years and months unmentioned).

Here are five differences I’ve noticed:

First, what about things to do?

I grew up in Anaheim, just two miles from Disneyland (or Dismalland, as some of us used to call it), and I never got tired of going there.  Knott’s Berry Farm was so close to my house that my family used to go there once every two weeks during the summer – back when it was free and you could spot Walter Knott walking around.

Birdcage Theatre @ Knott's Berry Farm

In addition, we Southern Californians enjoyed going to Universal Studios, Magic Mountain, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, Ports o’Call, Griffith Park (and Observatory), Dodger Stadium, Anaheim Stadium … and all the beach communities, to name just a few fun pastimes.

California Coast south of Irish Beach

How about Arizona?  There’s kind of a zoo … and the movies are cheaper ($5 or $6) … and there are millions of places to eat … and you can hike up the peaks … and drive 100 miles to Sedona … and two hours to Flagstaff … but that’s about it.  Oh, wait, I forgot the Grand Canyon … it’s pretty good.

Red Rocks in Sedona, Arizona

Last summer, I was really down one day, so I drove to Cave Creek.  I heard it was cool.  But when I got there, it looked like the backside of the moon.  I went from down to suicidal in about twenty minutes.

California wins hands-down.

Second, what about the weather?

California does have its share of hot weather.  There’s Death Valley, and Hemet, and Needles, and Blythe, and Palm Springs, and Redding … but most people live near the coast, where warm days are moderated by cool ocean breezes.

Phoenix?  It’s the final stop before hell.  The weather is cool right now … until spring training starts in February … then it magically hits 90 degrees.

Dodgers-White Sox Spring Training Game, Glendale, Arizona

One night this past summer, the power went out at 11:30 pm.  It was so hot at 2:30 am that we collected the dogs and drove around town for 30 minutes just so we could have some air conditioning.

I miss California’s weather … and actually seeing a pool of water somewhere besides the bathtub.

Third, what about politics?

This is a tough one.  When I grew up, California was a pretty conservative state, electing Ronald Reagan, George Deukmeijan, and Pete Wilson to be governor … but it’s become the purveyor of illogic and screwy ideas.

Thank God that’s not true of Arizona.

While Arizona is largely a conservative state (think Barry Goldwater), people like their guns here, too.  My wife stood in line at a local pharmacy last week and left when she noticed the guy in front of her had a gun sticking out of his pocket.  There’s a gun store next to a place I used to get my hair cut.  (If you didn’t like the way your hair was cut, you could just walk next door …)

Of course, Arizona has Sheriff Joe … he must be worth, what, any 40 California politicians?

Call it a tie.

Fourth, what about sports teams?

Let’s see.  Southern California has the Lakers, UCLA and USC, the Giants (yay!), the A’s, the Warriors, the Raiders, the 49ers (7-1?), Stanford, Cal … and on and on …

Golden State Warriors Game

Arizona has the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals (play nearby, but they’re 2-6), the Suns, ASU and U of A.  Oh, and the Coyotes.

The Lakers have 15 or so championships.  The Giants won the World Series last year.  The 49ers have five Super Bowl victories.

While the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl a couple years ago, and the Suns have made the NBA Finals several times, only the Diamondbacks have brought back a championship.

The Panda's Portrait at Chase Field

California wins.  It’s no contest.

Fifth, what about scenery? 

California has Highway 1, the ocean, the San Francisco Bay, the ocean, the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains, the ocean, lots of bleak desert, the ocean, hills galore, the ocean, and rivers and lakes and streams.

Pismo Beach, California

Arizona has … it has … lots of desert … and also … hmm … there’s a lake somewhere around here … and there are mountains near Flagstaff, and more desert, and plenty of weird-looking hills, and tons of swimming pools, and lots of flat land … and even more desert.

Sunrise in Arizona Desert

My wife and I took a drive to Paradise Valley yesterday.  The homes looked cool, but you couldn’t pay me to live there.  Too much desert.

Our kids don’t want to visit us … because there’s too much desert.

Arizona loses again.

Arizona does have its charms.  I have lots of family here, so that’s great, and there are lots of churches here – some of them HUGE, and that’s good, too.  And we obtained both of our dogs – Norman and Tito – here as well.

Norman and Tito Bandito

I welcome a spirited discussion comparing the two states.  Go at it!