The OC -- Starring My Parents

For one weekend I found myself waking up in the OC. I never believe it to be possible, well not for me, but my parents are finally living the American dream. My mom said all they need now is a dog. It's a big upgrade from a helicopter ambient, loud hispanic music blasting, police siren screaming Los Angeles area, to a public park-ridden, pretty library center of attraction Cerritos, to the monotonous suburb, forest fire-prone but nevertheless quiet city of Irvine. Although they're living in a small condo, it's a set retirement place for them, in my opinion. The backyard has a cute stream with ducks and cranes to greet you every morning. And as a testament of a well-planned suburban zoning, speed limit in the whole vicinity never goes down from 50 mph. Definitely tickled my need for speed but I never get around to reaching anyway, which will probably piss off some of the residents (I should probably not get used to the speed for a thousand more years)....I guess for the same zoning reasons the churches of different denominations were placed on one side of the street, which I find a little amusing.

Aside from the usual stores, not too upscalish but not cheap either, the real surprise here is not the neighborhood but their Ranch 99 Store (an asian market). It's like I'm in an alternate universe -- the place is really large and nice. And CLEAN. Even if there's the still weird food smell, the aisles are big, there's no sign of clutter, there's a wider range of produce (cherimoya anyone?) and, a very big meat and seafood section. I can mistake this place for a renovated Safeway supermarket. Even the Sam Woo place is suddenly 'première classe' (it's a D grade in LA, btw).

Lastly, the park is to die for. Unlike the last town, the lake area and the path is so creepily sanitized with nary a trace of grafitti or trash. Even walking at night it so safe we can see the lifestyle of the outlying houses surrounding the lake, perhaps they like the voyeurism spirit. Go go go! As much as I would like to not to keep my guard down, the pull of this place wouldn't allow you to. I'm just glad my parents settled in here and I hope they stay comfortable indefinitely.