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Robert DeLoach, GRI, e Pro

Pine Mountain...A Place to Belong

I moved from Santa Monica to Pine Mountain 10 years ago. Like most people I came upon it purely by accident. Set in a secluded valley, the scenery was beautiful, the homes were affordable and it was a short drive to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Bakersfield. I knew that this was the place I wanted to be.

Every year I spend in Pine Mountain, I discover something new and special about the area. The hiking trails, the night sky full of stars, the sound of snow flakes when they land, the wonderful wildlife we encounter daily.

Some people move to the mountains for seclusion, others want to be more involved in the community. While people do respect your privacy here, I've found it very easy to establish friendships. I probably made more friends my first year in Pine Mountain than the last five years I spent in Santa Monica.

I'm originally from Louisiana and my friends here know that. I was in Europe when Hurricane Katrina was approaching New Orleans. I watched the BBC coverage as I was getting ready to fly back to the States. By the time I reached New York, Katrina had hit Louisiana. I watched CNN coverage for over 5 hours on my flight back to California, shocked by the images I saw and very concerned for my family's safety.

As I drove home from the airport, I repeatedly tried to reach my family but the phone lines were down. Needless to say I arrived home very worried. When I pulled into my driveway I saw something on my front door. It was an envelope with my name on it, full of checks from friends and neighbors who wanted to help my family. It was an incredible act of generosity and kindness.

So, if you ask me what I like best about living here...yes, it's beautiful, but the friendships I've made here are what I like most of all about Pine Mountain.