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A little more than four years ago, I decided at a pivotal time in my life to make the journey west. It was 1,500 miles to Los Angeles, and a world away from everything I had ever known.
My dream lay before me; a dream that I was sure to reach under the year-round sun. I was living the life, and all the while searching impatiently for the better life ahead. I made friends: some to pass, a few forever. I had some of the best times of my life. I made some of the worst decisions, too. I learned a few hard lessons, and cheated many more. I found myself a time or two, and lost myself a third. And yet, somehow, I have to believe it is His will that led me here.
I wish I could say I leave with no regrets, but that is not true. I have many. The choice is mine, however, whether such regret lives as a spear in my side or as a fire in my belly; whether it beats me down with my own sword, or forges the steel of my spine. Today, I choose the latter. Tomorrow, I will have to chose once more.
There are many things I don't like about this state. The people are generally rude, the laws arbitrary and oppressive, the streets crowded and dirty, the beaches dirty and cold, and nothing needs saying about the air. The earthquakes are odd, and the wildfires terrifying and awe inspiring - mostly terrifying.
And yet within its worst, I have found its best. I have discovered my greatest friends here - they have taken me in, as have my most valued mentors. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a school I had no business getting into, and have managed - however so slightly - to make for myself a place forever in its history.
I have driven nearly every mile of I-5, and countless thousands more across this state. I have walked the beaches from San Diego to Carmel. I have escorted many rounds downrange in the deserts, and I have been witness and participant in some of the finest sports venues in California, one of which I call home.
I discovered Calguns.net, and have been delighted to take part in a community that - despite the challenges of doing so - has fought with time, money and passion to defend what precious little freedom remains. This community has won battles, and will win many more.
So it is with this said - albeit poorly - that I pack up and leave the Golden State and head back home. I have a job opportunity that I cannot pass, I hope you'll understand. It isn't the dream I'd hoped of, four years ago. When this next Sunday comes I won't be on the field, but on a long stretch of I-40 somewhere over the plains of West Texas.
However, as I leave one dream behind, I come to the door of one I have dreamt of much longer. It's a ways off at the moment, but I have time; the blood-stripe blues of the Corps will be around for many years to come. If you are so inclined, perhaps you as well could send a word Above on my behalf.
With that, California, I leave you. It is, though, only physical. I'll still search the boards every once in a while, and still keep up with California gun policies, hoping you've made more progress. I'll continue to hope that more Californians will experience the joy of shooting, if only once, and that more lawmakers will do the right thing. It's an uphill fight if ever there was one, but it can be done.
In some ways, California has disappointed me. But in many other ways it has made me proud to have spent such an important four years of my life here. I wouldn't trade it, and I wish you the best.
MM OneSix
My dream lay before me; a dream that I was sure to reach under the year-round sun. I was living the life, and all the while searching impatiently for the better life ahead. I made friends: some to pass, a few forever. I had some of the best times of my life. I made some of the worst decisions, too. I learned a few hard lessons, and cheated many more. I found myself a time or two, and lost myself a third. And yet, somehow, I have to believe it is His will that led me here.
I wish I could say I leave with no regrets, but that is not true. I have many. The choice is mine, however, whether such regret lives as a spear in my side or as a fire in my belly; whether it beats me down with my own sword, or forges the steel of my spine. Today, I choose the latter. Tomorrow, I will have to chose once more.
There are many things I don't like about this state. The people are generally rude, the laws arbitrary and oppressive, the streets crowded and dirty, the beaches dirty and cold, and nothing needs saying about the air. The earthquakes are odd, and the wildfires terrifying and awe inspiring - mostly terrifying.
And yet within its worst, I have found its best. I have discovered my greatest friends here - they have taken me in, as have my most valued mentors. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a school I had no business getting into, and have managed - however so slightly - to make for myself a place forever in its history.
I have driven nearly every mile of I-5, and countless thousands more across this state. I have walked the beaches from San Diego to Carmel. I have escorted many rounds downrange in the deserts, and I have been witness and participant in some of the finest sports venues in California, one of which I call home.
I discovered Calguns.net, and have been delighted to take part in a community that - despite the challenges of doing so - has fought with time, money and passion to defend what precious little freedom remains. This community has won battles, and will win many more.
So it is with this said - albeit poorly - that I pack up and leave the Golden State and head back home. I have a job opportunity that I cannot pass, I hope you'll understand. It isn't the dream I'd hoped of, four years ago. When this next Sunday comes I won't be on the field, but on a long stretch of I-40 somewhere over the plains of West Texas.
However, as I leave one dream behind, I come to the door of one I have dreamt of much longer. It's a ways off at the moment, but I have time; the blood-stripe blues of the Corps will be around for many years to come. If you are so inclined, perhaps you as well could send a word Above on my behalf.
With that, California, I leave you. It is, though, only physical. I'll still search the boards every once in a while, and still keep up with California gun policies, hoping you've made more progress. I'll continue to hope that more Californians will experience the joy of shooting, if only once, and that more lawmakers will do the right thing. It's an uphill fight if ever there was one, but it can be done.
In some ways, California has disappointed me. But in many other ways it has made me proud to have spent such an important four years of my life here. I wouldn't trade it, and I wish you the best.
MM OneSix
hopefully i wont be too far behind you outa this $H!T hole of a state. i have this master plan that i can pay all my debt off in about a years time, then im going to try to start something up in virginia.
"CALGUNSSSSS"
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