STATE PRIDE
Small Victory blogger Michele asked readers to explain why they love their states, and Lester Norton of Solonor created a blog, organized by state, to post those responses and solicit more comments on a separate site (via Procrastination). The California comments are, unfortunately, full of political spitball-firing. People who hate the idea of California—like people who hate the idea of Texas—might want to understand why other people love the place before they dismiss it with political labels. The culture of any place, especially one as mythic as these states, is subtler than the stereotypes.
If I have to reduce it to two factors, I love (Southern) California for the amazing sunlight and for a culture that encourages people to strive to do great things. Dallas is full of strivers, but they're mostly striving for success, measured primarily in material wealth. Like power striving in Washington and status striving in New York, that isn't as interesting to me, in part because it doesn't engender such individualistic definitions of success.
On the down side, the government of California is truly dysfunctional. It's a wonder the whole place doesn't collapse. [Posted 3/7.]