Cha-cha-cha-changes

So I'm finally starting to adjust to a life totally different than the one I had in Klamath Falls. In some ways I don't think I'll ever adjust. For example, if I had to describe most central Californians in one word, it would be: Late. Apparently, everyone here has lost at least five minutes somewhere and they are all trying to catch up. The traffic light changes to green and immediately someone honks because he's not driving. But you can't go immediately when the light changes to green because at least three cars have to get through the red the opposite direction. Maybe there's also a lot of color-blindness around here, I'm not sure.

There is a lot of impatience, though, and for someone not known for patience to see it, that is saying a lot. The other day I went through the McDonald's drive-thru, where the person in front of me was from somewhere slower than molasses, maybe Mississippi, I don't know. Anyway, it was annoying for me, but the woman two cars behind me was apparently on break from open heart surgery, because she flew around me and the car behind me as soon as she had her stuff, scraped her car (some metal part, not the plastic bumper) on the curb, and blasted in front of oncoming traffic to race to the red light.

I waved at her when I pulled up behind her. I'm sure she didn't notice because she was talking on her phone.

What I do think I'm adjusting to is the shopping. It's great to have so many choices. Although it's funny, I'm still drawn to the same stores we have in Klamath because I know what they have. I needed a gym bag and my first stop was Big 5. Shoes? Payless. Anything else? Walmart.

Oh, my, the Walmart here is a maze compared to the one in Klamath Falls, and it's not a superstore or anything. For some reason I cannot get this store down. I needed dog food and wandered what felt like hours before finally finding it, by the people food. I guess it makes sense. In a kind of weird way.

But there is a real mall (as in, you walk inside and all the stores are there!). And I'm already thinking about how I can get different things at different stores, without having to worry about an hour-and-a-half drive. And I don't have to feel obligated to spend a ton of money every time I go, because "we came all this way, better make the trip worth it."

So the next purchase to think about for us is a vehicle for me. Do I go back to another van? A full-size car? I'm torn, so I'm open to any input. In the meantime I drive Erik's truck, which I park terribly, and probably don't love like my husband does. He wants it back, I want to give it back to him, so hopefully it won't be too long before we can make a decision.