The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: How long have you lived in Contra Costa County? And were you born here, or did you move here from another county/state/country?
Talk about it….
Lived here all my life and there is little resemblance to state and county I grew up in.
We could leave doors unlocked, kids could travel blocks away to play without fear of being snatched. Crime was around but nothing compared to what a liberal billionaire and liberal politicians have helped to create.
Big crime news was when butcher at corner store was busted for making book.
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Kids were given an education not endless hours of indoctrination.
Homeless were helped by individuals, local organizations and churches.
Mentally ill were not left uncared-for and homeless to wander the streets. Drug use was a crime allowing Judges to force substance abusers to get clean n sober and stay that way.
32
44 years, born here.
Born in Southern California, … been here 62 years.
Parents moved back to this area, when I was 3 years old.
What city Roz? I was born in West Covina.
Born in Alhambra, raised in El Monte, … pretty close to West Covina.
Think we moved before you were born, LOL!
Too funny Roz…you are ONLY as young as you feel. The company that purchased us are based in Alhambra. Big heads and all talk. Already closed two thirds of their businesses. Stock in the mud. Like I mentioned on an earlier post…not sure if it will last until retirement.
… long enough to see it go from a quiet, safe deisreable suburban area to a place or growing crime, lawlessness, and irresponsibility … but then again that’s most of Cali over the last 15 yrs or so…
Forty-two years in Contra Costa. I was born in San Francisco, and grew up in the Bayview District when it was called “Old Butcher Town,” because there was a slaughterhouse on the corner of Evans and 3rd St. A nice neighborhood populated mostly with Italians, and Maltese, with some Portuguese thrown in. It was a safe neighborhood for kids to play and ride their bikes. We moved out here in 1981 to buy a house.
20 years now, and I was just wondering the other day about those metal street signs Ace Hardware used to sell with all the local high schools names on them. Concord High Minutemen, Mount Diablo High Devils, etc. There are a couple in Digger’s Diner. If anyone knows let me know, I would love to buy one, thanks!
Thought I saw a few of those signs at Henley’s Antiques on Clayton Road a while back. Not sure if they are still there . Worth a try.
Since 1965 58 years
Born in Pittsburg and moved to Concord when I was a couple months old. I’ve been living in Concord for 64 years. It was a great place to grow up. It’s not anymore and looking to leave. So sad.
All my life.
Wizard—
You haven’t lived all your life yet. Maybe all your life, so far?
We moved to Concord in 1974 from Santa Clara County, then to Clayton in 1977. We’re still happy in Clayton, in spite of the sorry state of California.
Born in 65 in MN and moved to Walnut Creek in 69. In that time lived in WC growing up, but as an adult Concord, San Ramon, Martinez, Lafayette and Pleasant Hill. Unfortunately my wife (who also moved here in 69 from IL) and I decided we’d seen too much change and didn’t see CA’s direction changing in our life time. In 2021 we sold just about everything and left CA in our RV, traveling most of the western states. IMO CA is the most beautiful state of all but no longer a great place to live at least for us. Still have a couple relatives in NorCal for now, although both are discussing leaving as they reach retirement. Also have many life long friends so we will be visiting on occasion.
1979
Long enough to see lawn signs become more and more divisive and threatening.
Since ‘89. I was originally from the South Bay
Since 1999. Moved here from the Chicago area, where I was born and raised.
I beat you to California by 50 years. Lived a couple miles west of Wrigley Field.
Nice! At one point I lived in Rogers Park, then Jefferson Park, otherwise, as far north as Grayslake, as far west as Schaumburg and as far south as Palos Hills. Fortunate enough that for a while used to have a gig that let me go back every now and again, visit some old haunts (though not many-best was taking the kids to Field Museum).
Since 1992
Since 1991 but also lived in Marin briefly 1969-70. Otherwise most of my life was in Washington state. But since I was a kid we would visit relatives in the Bay Area some summers.
Most of my life. I remember riding horses down to the shopping center by Heather farms to get a drink and then riding our bikes along the creek to Jolly Burgers (El Faro) on Monument Blvd the next day to get a burger. We had a lot of fun. And we were poor. I would give up everything I own if my kids could have experienced the same thing but times changed
Over 40 years now. Took a bit to live with the quiet in the neighborhood.
I’ve lived in central CCC since August 1968 except for a year and a half on Guam right after I got married.
And I still consider myself to be an expatriate Pennsylvanian.
Since ’93
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I’ve been a resident of CoCo County since 1981… originally from San Francisco.
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And I was in Sunvalley Mall, upstairs near Sears when that small plane crashed into the mall’s atrium.
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Born in SF, third generation and raised in the sunset district. One block from GG Park, had morning paper routes in the 60’s and remember Archie’s Donuts at 31st and Judah at 5AM, warm do-nut holes fresh! Streetcars were barely running at that time.
Concerts back then with Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, etc but when you’re 15 it was so weird with incense and scantily dressed women!
Moved around for work from San Bruno, San Jose, Kensington and landed in Martinez in 1984.
Bought my house in Martinez in 1986.
I moved here in 2008, then in 2010 I moved to the Peninsula where I lived for many years. However, the Peninsula is very expensive and just so hyped up, so moved back here in 2017. My exhusband I moved to San Francisco in 1976 after living in Milwaukee for a few months, before that New York City. We lived in the City for 2 years and then bought a house in Marinwood, lived there for 6 years, then bought a bigger house and closer to my exhusbands work in Foster City. When I got divorced I stayed in Foster City until my daughter went off to college, then I bought a condo in Benicia, and lived there until I moved to Concord. Concord is okay, it has changed a lot since I started coming here in 1984 visiting my best friend. Of the places I have lived in this area I liked Benicia the best, (Marin County second) I love being close to the water (that’s the viking in me) and it has more off a small town feeling, yet it is still close to interesting areas, such as the wine country. If I didn’t have to cross the bridge and pay toll to get to work I would probably move back to Benicia.
Moved from So Cal to Walnut Creek in late 60’s. Bought condo mid 80’s. Then house with The Husband in Concord. Didn’t trade up. My designer Garden and great commute kept us here.
The neighbor kids were a little miffed when we moved in. They used our front yard as a parking space for their toys and bikes. It was so cute! Seeing them lined up so neatly. The neighbors want us to reprimand them. No go! I did cut down the bush where they giggled and whispered. Haha, I didn’t want to know!
That is a span of 55 years or so. Everything Quaint is gone. Even Trader Joes is hiring nasty wokesters. Aloha is dead. Nobody appreciates the patient and nice old lady. Oh well. It’s for me now. 🤗
Too long and then some!!!!!! I used to love living in this once wonderful county and state.
Now both are unbearable!
Unfortunately, my wife won’t move; I guess she isn’t educated on Communism!
Born in SF. Lived in Pittsburg and Antioch as a toddler and youngster for a little over four years. Then lived in NJ and West Germany because dad was an Army Master Sergeant. As an adult, have lived in CoCo County — with a few years helping to care for my elderly parents in Solano County — since 1994.
Moved from the great PNW to Contra Costa when I was 5 and bailed when I was 58 so I was there for 53 years. Growing up in small town Lafayette was great, loved living in small town Martinez, did not really enjoy living on Concord. Honestly if I would have had the money to buy a home in Martinez instead of Concord I more than likely would still be in the area. The revitalization of downtown Martinez with the small restuarants, boutique shops, Bar Cava, brew pubs and music and art scene is fantastic. Concord is just to over populated and Ghettofabulous. No charm and really no sense of community.
I refer to where I live know as “Martinez on steroids” as there is a real sense of community and lots of events for the public.
Well Folks—————
Just where is this wonderful place you live now?
State capital of NV
Nineteen years this coming January. Had moved a lot with husband to get his retirement with Treasury. Was always over here growing up and between visits out of State with Great Uncle, Aunt and family who were here for many years. When he retired he said pick where you want to live, buy the house you want, work where you want and go for it and I did.
Born and lived in Concord for 46 years, 23 years ago I “ran for the hills” as the city I was raised in didn’t appeal to me any longer. The only places I go when I come back home is Memory Gardens and Barney’s, which is rarely.
27-yrs in Coco. I moved from out of state to SF for a couple of years then out to the burbs. Still love the weather and people I’ve met but lots of changes since then. I miss Simon Hardware and the “Mayberry” feel that WC had back then.
57 years in Concord. Family moved here from Oregon when I was 3. My home town is not even a shadow of what it used to be.
You all paint a beautiful picture of what this town/county was. Had many a classmate in (a Midwest) school who would describe many facets of California, loved it, and could not wait to finish school and head back, never even dreaming I would have moved out this way. Well, moved out this way, and nothing I saw here resembled anything he described. That is why I love/d the Claycord pictures (of yore), and the tales from you old-timers (old meaning living here long, not referring to length in the tooth).