Temecula is a middlin’-sized town (about 100,000 residents) about an hour from Los Angeles, an hour from Palm Springs and an hour from San Diego. It is about 400 miles south of San Jose, which is why we are here: we were hoping that we would get warmer weather by moving closer to the Mexican border. So far we have been mostly disappointed: the Temeculan weather doesn’t seem much different from the San Josean weather. And, as has been our experience since we arrived in California, the temperatures have been running consistently below normal. Everyone is complaining about the cold winter.
I guess… if 60 is a “cold winter.” It may not be balmy but it is WAY better than a New England winter. I am watching the Weather Channel as I write this, getting an up-to-date account of how “Winter Storm Saturn” is grinding its heel on Massachusetts. I really enjoy watching the misery that I am missing. We have even had a few days above normal, reaching 80 in a couple of cases. It isn’t quite what we hoped – we have worn shorts just a couple of times – but I will take it.
Temecula has long been inhabited by Indians and, of course, has the requisite Indian reservations and casinos. Jett and I have donated a few bucks to the Great Indian God “Slot”. And Jett has partaken of the local Indian cigarettes ($2.50 a pack) which she rates “not bad.” It has an “old town” that would have a Wild West flavor – if antique shops existed in the Wild West. It is an interesting area, though not very large: it runs about 6 blocks.
Jett and I came into town with the dogs a couple of weeks ago and encountered a staged gunfight in a vacant lot. It was very hokey, though it seemed to attract a fair number of tourists with nothing better to do than watch a staged gunfight in a vacant lot. Grace did not enjoy it at all. We had lunch at an outdoor cafe (it was one of those warm days) and she cowered under the table while we ate.
Gunfight at the Vacant Lot
My office building
I have an office in Old Town. It is in a building with a wooden sidewalk. I am subleasing space from a bridal dress shop. I’m not kidding. I work in a pink office with photos of wedding dresses adorning the walls.
My desk
The pink office wall
My workday commute is 20 miles and 25 minutes each way. That is a longer commute than I wanted but the RV park makes it worthwhile. And the commute is arguably the most interesting thing about living in Temecula. It is a volcanic moonscape, unlike anything you will find in Massachusetts. I haven’t tired of it yet.
As a teaser, I will include one photo from the RV park. More on the park soon.
The view on the commute
Rancho California