Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

This!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.


Funny how we move away from one issue only to find other issues.

I retired from Kentucky to SoCal near the beach.

Wanted a snow and ice free climate with less rain. Got 60 mph Santa Anna winds in excess of 100 degrees f and near zero humidity that burn entire communities to the ground because it hardly ever rains here.
Wanted a pollen free spring and summer to reduce nearly debilitating allergies. Got allergy related issues from all the agriculture related dust clouds due to constant field plowing.
Wanted to be rid of cicadas and water moccasins. Got tarantulas and rattle snakes.
Wanted to avoid tornados and floods. Got earthquakes and fires.
Wanted a little better access to top notch medical facilities and high end retail. Got that but have to deal with a thousand times more people to access it.

I certainly don't regret the move but there's always a bit of "The grass is greener on the other side" going on.

I have given some thought to all this. I did live in N California for a couple of years. It may become necessary to go back to the US in the next few years and I wouldn't go back to CA. Chicago has some business advantages for me, but I think I would prefer to move to Texas.

One of my former colleagues started a company in San Diego but has since moved to Arizona. So, he commutes from AZ to CA to work...

 

[JJR58]

The grass is always a little blue'er here!

Great analysis and perspective. You cited many reasons I'd consider moving. But you have effectively talked me out of moving to CA!

I like Morro Bay.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I like Morro Bay.

i was there on Sunday.....social distancing my azz....place was jumping...never left the car..

 

[5StringBlues]

Here's another performance of the big band. Even has a (God forbid)bass solo. Everything in both videos is written('cept the solo).

Fantastic, please post more of the big band on your channel.

Whole thing was super tight with you and the drummer locked.

 

[dagrev]

I like Morro Bay.

Yeah, we are pretty short on bays here. The quickest trip to the beach from here is Gulf Shores, AL. Wonderful place. Thought about retiring in that direction one day.

 

[JJR58]

i was there on Sunday.....social distancing my azz....place was jumping...never left the car..

Figures.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yeah, we are pretty short on bays here. The quickest trip to the beach from here is Gulf Shores, AL. Wonderful place. Thought about retiring in that direction one day.

how long is that drive?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

How can you tell? He is still wearing that hat! He should get a cool melon oriented hat.

Because the headstock is on the end of a bass neck. NSA's image enhancement makes it clear that's a bass neck, and not one of his limbs.

 

[TBird1958]

Washington is the place to be!



But, I can admit to a bit of bias.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have given some thought to all this. I did live in N California for a couple of years. It may become necessary to go back to the US in the next few years and I wouldn't go back to CA. Chicago has some business advantages for me, but I think I would prefer to move to Texas.

One of my former colleagues started a company in San Diego but has since moved to Arizona. So, he commutes from AZ to CA to work...

What part of Texas?

 

[PillO]

What part of Texas?

Probably DFW, Austin, or San Antonio.

 

[GBassNorth]

The grass is always a little blue'er here!

Great analysis and perspective. You cited many reasons I'd consider moving. But you have effectively talked me out of moving to CA!

LOL - keep in mind there's about seven different Californias all with completely different climates and terrain. Nobody here agrees completely on the dividing lines but AFAIC here's my take on the state...

SoCal coast (San Diego to Pismo Beach) - hot and dry, scrub brush, rolling brown hills, wild boar, people
Central coast (SLO to south of Carmel) - a bit cooler, trees, green hills, black bears, few people
Northern coast (Carmel to Oregon) cooler and more rain, giant trees, banana slugs, breathtaking scenery
North inland (1 hour east of the ocean to Nevada and down to Sacramento) Sparsely populated, skiing
Bay Area (south of Sacramento to South San Jose) people everywhere, suburban sprawl
Central Valley (Gilroy to Bakersfield) agri as far as you can see, but when it's foggy you can't see anything
SoCal inland (south of Bakersfield to Mexico to Nevada/Arizona border) desert, mountains, Death Valley

Note: I'd roughly define "Coast" as anything within about 30 minutes of the nearest beach.
Also note: It's all Thunderbird country!

 

[5StringBlues]

Probably DFW, Austin, or San Antonio.

DFW is southern Oklahoma, we don't claim it anymore.

 

[PillO]

LOL - keep in mind there's about seven different Californias all with completely different climates and terrain. Nobody here agrees completely on the dividing lines but AFAIC here's my take on the state...

SoCal coast (San Diego to Pismo Beach) - hot and dry, scrub brush, rolling brown hills, wild boar, people
Central coast (SLO to south of Carmel) - a bit cooler, trees, green hills, black bears, few people
Northern coast (Carmel to Oregon) cooler and more rain, giant trees, banana slugs, breathtaking scenery
North inland (1 hour east of the ocean to Nevada and down to Sacramento) Sparsely populated, skiing
Bay Area (south of Sacramento to South San Jose) people everywhere, suburban sprawl
Central Valley (Gilroy to Bakersfield) agri as far as you can see, but when it's foggy you can't see anything
SoCal inland (south of Bakersfield to Mexico to Nevada/Arizona border) desert, mountains, Death Valley

Note: I'd roughly define "Coast" as anything within about 30 minutes of the nearest beach.
Also note: It's all Thunderbird country!

Your description of Silicon Valley, is... kind. That is where I was for 2 years. I found it to be all the worst aspects of living in suburbs with few no redeeming qualities. As for Gilroy - well, to live there, you have to be very comfortable with garlic.

Central coast is very nice, and great mostly undiscovered wines. And the wine is good quality at fair prices. As opposed to Napa valley, where the wines are good, but get priced at a premium because... Napa.

San Diego is really nice. I like the downtown gaslamp district.

LA is New York if it had been built out rather than up.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

LOL - keep in mind there's about seven different Californias all with completely different climates and terrain. Nobody here agrees completely on the dividing lines but AFAIC here's my take on the state...

SoCal coast (San Diego to Pismo Beach) - hot and dry, scrub brush, rolling brown hills, wild boar, people
Central coast (SLO to south of Carmel) - a bit cooler, trees, green hills, black bears, few people
Northern coast (Carmel to Oregon) cooler and more rain, giant trees, banana slugs, breathtaking scenery
North inland (1 hour east of the ocean to Nevada and down to Sacramento) Sparsely populated, skiing
Bay Area (south of Sacramento to South San Jose) people everywhere, suburban sprawl
Central Valley (Gilroy to Bakersfield) agri as far as you can see, but when it's foggy you can't see anything
SoCal inland (south of Bakersfield to Mexico to Nevada/Arizona border) desert, mountains, Death Valley

Note: I'd roughly define "Coast" as anything within about 30 minutes of the nearest beach.
Also note: It's all Thunderbird country!

Excellent assessment, 100% agree.

 

[GonePlaid]

Fantastic, please post more of the big band on your channel.

Whole thing was super tight with you and the drummer locked.

I'd like to, but that's all there(currently)is. Joe is the finest drummer I've ever worked with, whether big or small band.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'd like to, but that's all there(currently)is. Joe is the finest drummer I've ever worked with, whether big or small band.

were you using your Rumble? PA?

 

[dagrev]

how long is that drive?

About 659 miles from my house, or about 10.5 hrs--but that's getting after it and eating on the run. We used to drive straight through at times, but as much as I love driving, I can't stand to be stuck in a car for hours and hours. I go stir crazy. We normally stop about half-way, which is something like Birmingham. Taking a flight with all the waiting and flying in to Pensacola (about a 50 minute drive to GS) would only save about 4 hours or so. We haven't gone in several years. Calm place to relax, but we go in the off seasons. Not too commercialized. Snow white beaches. Great seafood.

OK, it's really awful and none of you people need to start going there.

 

[dagrev]

Washington is the place to be!

But, I can admit to a bit of bias.

The pics are beautiful (understatement). But I think your weather is worse than ours! We don't get all that many days of full Sun. I don't like cloudy days, and rain only when needed! Have no interest in snow either.

 

[GBassNorth]

Herein I offer video proof that the THUNDERBIRD is a "one trick" bass. Recorded in 2008. Yeah, that's me in the upper left with headstock attached.

I have my 2015 TBird set up pretty much as a one trick pony on purpose. It's dedicated to Swing, Big Band, Cool Jazz and Country right now because of the relatively specialized strings (La Bella Black Tapes). They knock it outta the park for these genres, not so much for hard rock, but I have other birds for that type of music.

Here's a band I've been following a bit with some nice catchy country/Swing/blues type tunes...

...almost makes me want to take up the upright bass. I'd bet Galoee and The Dukeorock could tear it up on the upright.

Here's another performance of the big band. Even has a (God forbid)bass solo. Everything in both videos is written('cept the solo).

Both great vids! Very tight percussion section and equally tight horns, that's a real feat considering the lack of conducting the conductor did. Obviously everyone knew their part and played their best. Wish your solo had been longer.

That was great. I love big band. But have never been able to catch one in action.
Great lines played during the song. Check.
Stand there looking cool like Duck Dunn. Check.
Headstock remained attached. Check.
Mission accomplished.

I noticed that whole Duck Dunn thing going on in the back left corner of the stage as well. Mike just needs a pipe.