Back from San Diego

Been a long time-didn't realize!

Proves that if you want to blog, you need to work on it daily--or the weeks slide by. Why? No really credible explanation. Worked a lot on vacation rental documents--was invited to speak at state trade association meeting in SD and spend ungodly hours prepping for 15 minutes. The talk went OK. Not necessarily because of my input, but the organization is going to gather all vacation rental ordinances in the state and perhaps build a database. --so if a local government seemed inclined to inflict an ordinance or an amendment--it would be possible to check to see where else in the state that type of regulation had been tried already--then contact folks there, get insight into why it didn't work (almost all vacation rental ordinance provisions don't work). Should have been done years ago, but, until recently, the number of communities imposing ordinances to satisfy the fringe opponents who really believe they have the right to keep strangers out of their neighborhoods was small. The key is the fringe opponents vote and neither the vacationers nor the out of area property owners do. Not a surprise the politicians pander joyously, promising ever more restrictive provision that are needed because the previous set didn't eliminate the problems, mostly because there's no real effort at enforcement. Common governmental pattern--failure to enforce an ordinance produces a more restrictive ordinance instead of renewed efforts to enforce the old ordinance.

That sort of gathering of documents and sharing information is the thing the state association can do remarkably well--then there are the other things--more on those later.

San Diego was amazing--warm days, balmy nights, full of energy and hope. Young people with good jobs and better prospects in sufficient numbers to create an aura of optimism. Gas Light Quarter always an experience. I spent Friday AM in Coronado--feeling quite at home--probably because of advancing maturity. I sure haven't acquired old money lately. Drive back to SLO took 5 hours flat and was astounding for the mass of humanity and development I whizzed by in my rental car. OMG!

It's a very big urban area--the residents see little pieces--see the big chunks is scary! How will we control energy use to extend the life of earth as a human habitat when we obviously can't control much of anything related to human habitation?

Ok back in the blogging groove. More on meetings in next--which will be SOON!!