The San Diego Zoo is the Pride of Southern California

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:50:11 +0000

Located in beautiful Balboa Park in San Diego California, an easy commute from nearby Temecula, the San Diego Zoo is hands down the best zoo I have ever visited, and is, arguably the best in the country. My impression was good from the moment we arrived. There are numerous methods of transportation around the zoo including a guided tour bus, an express bus and the Skyfari Aerial Tram. The buses are double-decker. There is another method of getting around as well, walking. We tried them all. Walking was great because there were many little rest stations with foot massage machines that were just the thing we needed after walking for a while on a fairly warm day. The atmosphere and weather are almost always perfect so with all of these transport options seeing everything in one day is actually possible for everyone.

A zoo is a home for animals, or should be. It should be all about the animals, and this zoo is. The animals are always the focus. As you see the animals in this open area habitat which is obviously carefully planned and scrupulously kept as close to the natural habitat of animals in the wild as possible, you are impressed with the cleanliness, and attention to detail.

The favorite animals are the Pandas. Animals can’t tell us they are happy and content. They can’t smile but when I watched the Mom Panda playing with her little one, they sure looked happy and content, comfortable and at home. The zoo is very careful about exposing these beautiful animals on a limited basis to give them privacy and stress free living. They are the biggest attraction and the zoo does not exploit them in any way. I think the fact that these animals do have young here also speaks to the stress-free and natural environment. Reproduction of some of these species is a real problem for many zoos and it is attributed by some experts to the stress of living in captivity.

I enjoyed the apes and the giraffes and the elephants, as well as the myriad other species in the park. People of all ages can enjoy this place. The park abounds with food and beverage areas and we had dinner at a beautiful zoo restaurant that featured an outdoor patio area overlooking a stream that made us feel we were in a remote and wild and peaceful paradise. It was the perfect ending for a perfect day.

This non-profit organization goes out of its way to support it’s rare and exotic animals in every aspect of their lives, but they also want the public to see these beautiful creatures and to feel the importance of appreciating and preserving these species. One feels humbled and honored to be part of this effort, to have the opportunity to observe and support the wild creatures of the world.

The zoo is the one thing you must not miss if you are visiting in the San Diego area. The locals don’t need to be told. They visit, support and love the zoo. Many of the people we met there were from San Diego or the Temecula area, and they were very proud of their zoo. What a wonderful benefit and source of pride to the citizens of Southern California.

How to Weather Delays in Building your New House

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:53:11 +0000

Building a new house can be not only a time of great anticipation, but also a time of great uncertainty. You have sold or you are in the process of selling your current house. You have purchased land and selected a design for your new house. You can’t wait to move in.

Many times, construction takes longer than anticipated, whether it’s because you decide to make changes to the plan along the way, or just because the builder falls behind, you may find yourself waiting an extra month or two more than planned before you can actually move in to your new dream home.

In today’s market you don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize the sale of your existing house or who knows how long you might wait for another offer. So if the buyers insist on holding the original closing and moving dates, then you may need to move out of your old house before you new house is finished. That means finding a place to live that is comfortable and convenient.

You could look for a rental house whose owner is willing to accept a month to month lease. Good luck. Most will want a year-long lease and security deposits. Then there’s the setting up of utilities and telephone service. Are you considering moving in your furniture only to pack it all up again in a month or two when your permanent house is ready? Ouch.

Most moving companies will store your packed up furniture safely for a period of time between moves for an extra charge. This is probably your best bet. The chance of things getting damaged goes up significantly every time they get moved from place to place, so minimizing the number of moves will certainly help keep everything in one piece. If you’re not bringing your old furniture to your temporary living space, you’ll need fully furnished accommodations.

One source of temporary housing that many people in this situation overlook is corporate residential housing. There are companies who cater to people who are in between living arrangements, often because they are relocating for a new job away from their old home. These residential housing companies step in as a part of the relocation service provided by the new employer. They provide furnished apartments for individuals or families so they have a comfortable place to stay while they look for more permanent housing.

These companies are happy to work with individuals who may also be in need of temporary housing for one reason or another. They usually require only a 30 day commitment. They can make all the necessary arrangements to get you set up in your new apartment including phone service and other utilities.

If the completion date of your new house falls behind and you need to vacate your old residence, temporary corporate housing may be the right choice to save you time, money, and aggravation.

Fear Not VOD » Real Estate

The San Diego Zoo is the Pride of Southern California

How to Weather Delays in Building your New House