My Californian Dream

The Californian Dream is basically living a life of luxury and freedom in the best of weathers, with the best company-looks and personality-, contented and happy. This was the image sold to many, around the 1970s through television shows such as The Brady Bunch and other forms of media such as posters and advertisements. Many people all over the United States and the world actually longed for these conditions and were enticed by what California seemed to have to offer. For example, in the article "A New Perspective on the Dream" by Denise S. Spooner, the author states that migrants from the Midwest were drawn to California by the weather and liberal environment where they would not be judged based on their beliefs or class. Migrants from around the world, particularly Asia, must have seen the same promise of a better life in the warm west coast as well. Thus, the Californian dream also became a hope of a fresh start, a new beginning where they can forget about all the bad things that happened in the past and restart their lives.

In 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, the American Dream came to be a shared vision for all citizens to enjoy better lives together. It was thought to be attainable by anyone as long as he is hardworking, diligent and is steadfast in his goals and ambitions. However, over the years, it has morphed into one of fast cash and get-rich-quick scenarios. Winning game shows such as 'Wheel-of-Fortune' and 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' has indubitably become the new American Dream.

I think the difference between the American Dream and the Californian Dream presently is for many people, the former is a chancing upon fast cash and enjoying that fortune without the effort of handwork, while the latter is getting comfortable with living a relaxed lifestyle without a care. It is of course hard to differentiate the two, as every individual would have his or her own idea of the two dreams. However, I feel that even if the American Dream of fast cash is achieved, it will be fleeting as mismanaged endowments go up in thin air quickly, as seen time and again from history. The Californian Dream on the other hand is much easier to maintain. Living by the beach and just taking life in day by day, it might even be hard to get out of that lifestyle.