You can’t get over it because of this feeling that it’s not going to end and will even get worse. We can’t protect anybody anymore from the declining conditions, but it’s so slow and gradual we forget about it until news stories like this cross our view.

I work with cases where people are changed for life out of the blue by crime. Sometimes infants, Sometimes schoolchildren. I’ve been asked how I handle the exposure. I guess I just disassociate. Maybe the stress pops up elsewhere.

I have told relatives they need to plan to relocate away from the Bay Area – they ignore the very thought. These are the same people who refuse to do cancer screening too. Funny thing, other friends are doing exactly that relocating to lower crime areas such as Reno/Sparks (no income tax) and Portland (no sales tax). I don’t expect to retire within CA. Taxes and crime will play a huge part is deciding where to relocate to.

It’s good to see that Chris is working so hard to recover. Good Luck to him.