Abaco, me and my wife moved to Idaho in 2020, escaped from California Sacramento for the same reasons your speaking about. Personally, I believe this homelessness is intentional, along with the fentanyl, the riots and looting, shoplifting, destruction of families through genital mutilation of minors, unchecked immigration, fuels management (fires), cost of living due to taxes. All of these problems individually are easily solvable but the government in California will not, California government is treasonous.

Idaho is stronger, they still have not legalized drugs, this was the start of the decline in California. Idaho has a homelessness problem but it pails in comparison to California. We have government officials that are making the stupid decisions, especially the mayor of Boise. You can still walk around Idaho with your .40 concealed or in a holster without having to ask “may I” to the government.

My point is Hanlon's razor is bullshit - "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

We need a new philosophical razor, The jackass razor – “Never attribute to malice a single act of stupidity but when a overwhelming chain of stupid acts effect a common outcome, assume its malice.” - Jack1776

I think something is going on when you look at the everything going on in California, too much, too quick and the stupidity is too great.

And they say that Zombies aren't REAL...they are metaphorically in all of these metro areas....they FEED off of all our taxpayer money.....

The rot is spreading everywhere. It's been years since I visited the downtown area of the city I live near because the last time I went there for business it was trashed and smelled like urine - you had to step over it on sidewalks. I've lived in a now populous suburban area for over 40 years and things are changing here. More trash thrown about and graffiti painted on walls and signs and poles in increasing amounts including "gang signs" never seen in this area before - my wife noticed one the other day as we were waiting for a light and asked what it was as she'd seen the same spray paint scribble in several places. When I told her it was a gang sign she said, "Here? I thought they were in the city!". Welcome to expanding Marxville.

Colorado Springs, where I live, is over run with homeless, despite the harsh conditions in the winter. I have been here 19 years, and have observed the slow deterioration of the city. Also terrible roads, potholes everywhere. And now recreational marijuana shops all over the city. I have found that the homeless don't exist off just holding cardboard signs at intersections. They are supported by the city's homeless outreach teams, and especially local churches, providing meals, water, and shelter. There is a whole network of support. I think if the support was cut off, and they were forced to go to the city's shelters, it would greatly reduce the homeless population. Most of the homeless here are meth addicts.

I enjoyed your visit to east central Florida.