Speaking of blowing smoke around the smoker.

[forktender]

It's a well known fact that I'm sick and tired of living in CA anymore. This just may be what makes us leave this crap hole of a state.
The first picture is in my front yard the tree on the left is about 60' away and the tree on my right is about 100' away the white streaks are ash falling everything is covered in it. This picture was taken around 7:00 AM. The second picture was taken around 10:00 AM
The third picture was on our local new looking at Marin County.

Great place to live 30 years ago, not so much now.
I can't leave the house even to go check on my parents. I have compromised lungs from years of working with asbestos in the SF shipyards. Boy this state sure is one giant cluster hump these days. I'd of moved yrs ago if it wasn't for my parents and inlaws, they need assistance. After this crap it may be move with us or fend for yourself I can't take this much longer.
None of the pictures above were edited this what the sky actually looked like. Today jt looked like a gray winter day with ash blowing around...this sucks big time. Here is the air quality map of CA right now... it's like living in hell.

The good people in CA sure could use a few prayers if you have any lying around.

 

[chopsaw]

.

 

[mike243]

Prayers and votes sent, no where is as good as it use to be but Tn has been my over all favorite, lived in Mi and Fla as a kid and while both have things that appeal to me Tn is where my heart is.

 

[GATOR240]

On their way. Take care and stay safe.

 

[bacon_crazy510]

I agree ... I work in Oakland forktender ... it's bad enough dealing with the crime that the city has chosen to accept as normal in the name of "tolerance" ... every other day there is a new proposed tax grab from our politicians who seemingly have forgotten that they work for us, and not the other way around ... not to mention that their hair brained "green energy" legislation has now left the state having to shut down power via rolling blackouts during peak energy usage times. Now this ....

I want out too.

This was 10:00 am on Wednesday in Oakland:

 

[sawhorseray]

I'm a 4th generation San Francisco boy, grew up in Redwood City, started serving my carpenters apprenticeship in the Financial District when I was 17 in 1969. It was a great place to grow up, learn a trade, and make a living, the last decade or so it's turned into a complete mess. We moved from the Bay Area to up around Sacto almost 20 years back until the taxes, air quality, and traffic just became too much to endure any longer. After years of putting it off for one stupid reason or another we moved to Gilbert, AZ 15 months ago. Plain and simple, it was the best decision I've ever made. Gilbert is rated one of the ten safest cities to live in in America, there's no gangs, people are friendly, traffic moves along at a comfortable pace, always! For the home we owned in CA we got a house in Gilbert on a quarter acre with a pool, 3-car garage, and RV parking, and the property taxes are about one quarter of what they were living in Elk Grove, and we had a nice chunk of change leftover! Gas and diesel are at least a buck a gallon less here, food costs the same. For about five months during the summer with a pool and the AC running 24/7 you will get a hefty power bill, part of the trade off in property taxes. When in Elk Grove I had a a CCW permit issued by the Sacto sheriff's office, I wouldn't go to the grocery store without my S&W 40MP Shield tucked down my pants. Aside from range work it hasn't been out of the night stand since a month after we got here, like I said earlier, no gangs and punks hanging around. It takes a lot to leave to leave everything you've ever known and are familiar with, all your friends too. California isn't going to get any better, in any way, it's a great place to be FROM. The only thing I really miss is the ocean fishing, and I can drive my cabover camper back in 12 hours and do that anytime I like. RAY

 

[JLeonard]

Yikes! Prayers and well wishes sent your way.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Wow. Those orange sky pictures really tell it all. Best wishes man. Just FYI TN is great this time of year aside from the humidity. Come on over!

 

[creek bottom]

Prayers for you and your families... Stay safe ...

 

[D.W.]

I really hope my work goes permanent remote. Right now we are on it through the end of the year. If they give the option next year, I'm taking it and leaving this state. I'm with you on the fires, constant power outages, high cost of living, high crime, constant traffic, homelessness, etc. It' all gotten way out of hand. If people would vote the other way here, we would again be one of the most desirable and richest states, but all they want is free stuff and living off the govt.

 

[sandyut]

Wow man... thats bad. I could see that being the motivation to leave. sending prayers to you and your family. I was born in Berkeley and lived in Orinda, Sacramento and around. move to CO in the early 80s. Had family in CA. used to go back. its a cool place, just too many people and all the stuff. best wishes my friend!

 

[chilerelleno]

I could go on a long detailed rant about how screwed up California is, societal wise and politically on every level and more.

It has been in a long downward spiral for decades, and it will just get worse.

Suffice it to say, best move I ever made was leaving 24 years ago.

 

[ofelles]

Ya, not better here in the Delta. I come out to this in the morning. You can see the ash in the air. Don't take a deep breath!

 

[SmokinAl]

Man that really sucks!
I can’t even imagine what you guys are going thru.
And it seems to be getting worse every year.
We have our hurricanes, but you have plenty of time to prepare.
Not like you guys when these fires are upon you in hours.
God be with you!
Al

 

[noboundaries]

I'm a CA native, and with the exception of a 12 year period in my younger days, have called the state my home. Crazy politics aside, the smoke and fires have never been this bad. Best case view out of a window is a sepia-toned world. Worst case is shown above. It's like all other colors have been washed away.

Having the ocean, mountains, deserts, and rich farmland minutes to two hours away has always been the appeal, but not now. This will pass, but the damage to the economy from the fires and covid will last for generations.

 

[GaryHibbert]

It's a well known fact that I'm sick and tired of living in CA anymore. This just may be what makes us leave this crap hole of a state.
The first picture is in my front yard the tree on the left is about 60' away and the tree on my right is about 100' away the white streaks are ash falling everything is covered in it. This picture was taken around 7:00 AM. The second picture was taken around 10:00 AM
The third picture was on our local new looking at Marin County.
Great place to live 30 years ago, not so much now.
I can't leave the house even to go check on my parents. I have compromised lungs from years of working with asbestos in the SF shipyards. Boy this state sure is one giant cluster hump these days. I'd of moved yrs ago if it wasn't for my parents and inlaws, they need assistance. After this crap it may be move with us or fend for yourself I can't take this much longer.
None of the pictures above were edited this what the sky actually looked like. Today jt looked like a gray winter day with ash blowing around...this sucks big time. Here is the air quality map of CA right now... it's like living in hell.

The good people in CA sure could use a few prayers if you have any lying around.

You guys are sure getting it bad this year--worst year I've ever seen for fires.
Stay safe. Prayers sent.
Gary

 

[GaryHibbert]

There's just no way I could live in California, what with the taxes, rules, crime, and now the fires. Way too many people. I'm much happier living up here in the bush.
There's lots of spare bush up here in Alberta for anybody to move onto. Problem is that the Arabs have totally destroyed the Oil Patch here, so there's NO economy left. My truck and trailers haven't turned a wheel since April 1.
The good news is that around Drayton Valley, its been such a wet summer that there are no fires and the closest that Covid has gotten is 100 miles away.
I guess everything's a trade off.
Stay safe, or maybe move up here--I could use some good company.
Gary

 

[chilerelleno]

Growing up in SoCal was great back in the day.
You could easily make a day of it, surf the morning swell, go snow skiing in the mountains for lunch and off roading in the desert that evening.
Back when you could still go shooting/hunting in most any unincorporated area, public lands or private property.
When you could leave a long gun in your window rack and not have it smash-n-grabbed or SWAT slamming you to the ground.

All these massive fires are due to the State's piss poor land management, their kowtowing before every environmental whacko who cries about a rat, lizard, bird, minnow or insect that has to be protected.
Very little to no clearing of brush, culling trees, controlled burns, not enough or big enough fire breaks and so much more.
You can't even manage your own private property as you see fit without permits that take too much time. effort and money to get, and you'll be fined out the wazoo if you try to do it without them.

 

[MJB05615]

So sorry for what you're going through. Praying for you and your Families.

 

[forktender]

We are still stuck in the house, I'm about to go postal over this smoke, it's insane.
Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes, I guess I just needed to vent a little this is brutal. I have had the air purifier running on high blowing into my fave 24/7 for the last two weeks and the air quality is still hazardous to unhealthy outside. I can't wait to see the stars again and open the windows to air this place out.
I'll have to pressure wash everything outside the house including the house vehicles, smokers, grills and redwood deck. I'm not stoked about the extra work right before waterfowl season.