Life in the O.C.

How did I get my even limited access to this priviledged world behind what is fondly known in Los Angles as "the orange curtain?" Somewhat accidentally as it turns out. When California real estate was at its most affordable, my husband and I got married and bought the worst house in the best neighborhood in Newport Beach, California. Mostly because I, due to some particularly fond but hazy memories of my single life in Newport Beach, insisted on living in the area. The housing tract we purchased into, nestled just above Balboa Island, in those days, was mostly populated with really old people. Made up of mid-century moderns (1950s tract houses), it was a relatively quiet place. In late 1999, the stock market shot through the roof and California real estate started taking off with it. The Dot Com money created unusual amounts of wealth in the Orange County area (even more than normal). As the old people died or moved to retirement communities, "younger" families with kids started taking over the houses. Then the remodeling boom began. We found ourselves living in the middle of a giant construction site, amongst some of the most beautiful homes and richest people in all of California. Game on.