What makes CALIFORNIA so much better than all of Pennslyvania?

Besides the missions, what makes California history so unique?

• I've visited every single Spanish mission of California. I learned a lot about the people and how California developed over time. I'm itching for another educational adventure. Besides the missions, what makes California history so unique? The only thing I can think of are all the lighthouses, but there's not really that interesting of a history behind the lighthouses.

• Answer:

  Frakin BSG Fan, First let me commend you for the accomplishment of being able to claim that you have visited every single California Mission!!! Wow!!! I have only seen three and I spent most of my life in California. Second, and maybe more importantly is your next step in understanding a terrific State. I would like to recommend that you consider the development and delivery of water to California via the Colorado River. You may already know about the 1922 Compact that was signed by the Upper Basin (comprising Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and Lower Basin (Nevada, Arizona, and California). In recent years, the compact has become the focus of even sharper criticism, in the wake of a protracted decrease in rainfall in the region. In December, 2007, a set of interim guidelines on how to allocate Colorado River water in the event of shortages was signed by the Secretary of the Interior (see links below). My third link below can be a viable option for you below. I would suggest maybe considering an opportunity to visit. I would recommend beginning at Lake Mead and then moving up toward Arches (or vice versa). This is the lifeline for the American Southwest as you know. As great as the population has become over the many years since the signing of 1922 Compact we can see today that California uses less water than they did going back to 1985. However, this is due in part to mandatory recycling efforts. Another area for consideration in terms of water availability is desalinization. The cost to deliver the product is one main concern because it requires an infrastructure that must be paid for beyond what is known as “the gate” (the point of where water leaves the developing facility and then moves to the community at large). The other issue is with the by product that must be disposed of and this is known as brine; during the desalinization process it is known as “blow out” where the salt is actually extracted from the water. Either way the political implications here in desalinized water is as heavy as the 1922 Compact itself because of temperatures that the local lagoons must not exceed during the process (69 degrees Fahrenheit). This is all extra information for you here and I get rather passionate about California Water…LOL! Again, take a look at the third link, read the article but explore the map for potential opportunities and best of luck! I am VERY impressed with your accomplishment of the California Missions! More people should take an interest in being able to appreciate what I consider the most controversial State but yet to me and to this day the most beautiful within the United States. Water is California Gold today and that cannot be denied. All the best, Gerry D.