Reviews & Comments
Missoula, MT
Last Best Place -
2/19/2018For a small city, Missoula is hard to beat. The location is drop-dead gorgeous. It's population is young and lively. Good restaurants thrive. While being a destination, it doesn't have the Disneyland vibe of other "vacation" spots like Bozeman, Whitefish and Livingston. A walk down Higgins Street on a Saturday morning in July is a joy... the Clark Fork churning with floaters, one of the best farmers markets anywhere, al fresco brunches, coffee shops and breweries everywhere. Downside: Cold, grey winters. Increasing wildfires in August and September. All in all, a terrific small town. Hard to find a better place to live.
Ojai, CA
A Rare Gem. Not For Everyone. -
2/19/2018Ojai has it's social and environmental challenges. It's population can be insular and self-absorbed. I grew up in Palo Alto and lived in Berkeley in the 70's so I can relate to that mindset. To live here, you need to have a large dose of tolerance for all sorts of people. Acceptance is key to fitting in. Ojai does not appeal to racists and bigots. There's a welcome influx of younger and hipper people since 2010. One of the biggest challenges facing Ojai is water and a changing climate. Summers are hotter than ever and water resources are diminishing rapidly. Some old timers are moving out because they think the place is drying up. It may very well be. But it is still one of the most beautiful places on the planet.