McMansions

Manhattan Beach has changed over the last 30+ years, as has everything else. When I first moved here, it consisted of a gaggle of mismatched beach houses. I would suppose most of them were built in the 50's, as was my house. The tone was casual and the people eclectic and friendly.

4th of July was an armed camp on the beach, with sand bunkers and unlawful fireworks... it looked rather like the invasion at Normandy, and was not a safe place to be unless you were young and swift.

I had a friend who called the cops on himself once, when the wildest of the local pubs wouldn't serve him (and believe me, he had to be realllly gone for them to say no). He went outside and called the police (no cell phones, just the convenient Clark Kent device on the corner). When they came, he gave them his sob story about how that mean old bartender wouldn't give him anythingtodrink. The local police, also being more eclectic and friendly, merely collected him and let him sleep it off in the 'drunk tank'... no harm. no foul. no ticket. no lawyers. no shame.

It's changed, as has the look of the place.

We call them McMansions.

and they're everywhere..

This is one of the best examples of a McMansioned street.


Keep in mind that the average lot size in Manhattan Beach is 30' by 90'. Yep, that's FEET, people. Not a lot of room, so many people (where DO THEY GET THIS MONEY?) buy TWO lots and fill them both.

Here are some pictures of the evolution to this point.

First we have the 'little beach home'...



Then, the larger, boxier, and completely boring house... but bigger... bigger is better..





So... I'm thinking, when the time comes, that I will travel a great deal, and stay in little towns across the country, like mine used to be, and visit with my flatlander friends.

and I won't miss this place at all...