Not everyone in shape in California

Well, yes. New York still has a ways to go before it matches California's athletic facilities; one reason many New Yorkers are hoping to get the Olympics here is that it would be a way to get more facilities built. Nevertheless, there are more than in 1999. (By the way, two MTA bus routes stop directly in front of the entrance to Asphalt Green and three subway lines stop a few blocks away -- I live two blocks away; it isn't in Siberia.)

Indeed, not everyone is in great shape in California, Cynthia, but the possibilities for accessing fitness programs are greater in California than in the Eastern US, for whoever wants to choose to exercise. In Masters in the East, there are three or four practices per week. I remember like this Maryland, mid-West Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee. In California, in Silicon Valley where I was and in San Diego where I am now, there are nineteen practices per week. Outside of the Masters programs, fitness facilities are open longer hours in California than in the East, and they are better run: my nightmare fitness facilities are from recalling mid-West Illinois (swimming one way in one lane, and swimming back in the adjacent lane), New York without parkings except paying parkings in private garages but sure with too many toll roads, New Jersey ("Sir, I stop your swimming because I am crossing the lane.") and Tennessee (someone who didn't know how to swim, jumps in the lane where I was swimming non-stop and collides with me, while the lifeguards and the management didn't understand anything about it, lifeguards who unoficially were closing the facility earlier than advertised and public crossing swimming lanes).

Ken has it right about transportation in New York, and there are swimming facilities available throughout the city for every person's schedule and location. Like everywhere else, you might have to search around to find the one that best fits your needs. But why the heck would anyone drive around in a city with one of the most extensive and inexpensive Mass transit systems in the world? I get all around the city just fine by subway, bus, walking and even the occasional taxi. A subway and bus map are all you need to look at. Admittedly, there is a certain minimum amount of Savvy involved in living in New York. Clearly you didn't acquire it in your brief stay here. However to say that "New York and New Jersey are a downgrade in civilization third-world style"? :mad: Fighting words, Ion. I don't think you just left New York. I think you were deported. New York - "If you can make it here you can make it anywhere."

Both coacst offer good faclilties and workouts to go along with them. When I have traveled to either coast, I have always found places to swim & people to meet. Everyone was very enthused and energitic about working out. Plus they welcomed you if you were a vistor. :D California & Florida offer more outdoor swimming because of the weather!:D In the New England & mid Altantic States (NJ, NY, Penn) they can not offer the outdoor envirnoment because of simple geographic reasons. As stated earlier, yes in the east coast hockey is a bigger sport, at both the high school & college level because of the climate. In California, sports such as volleyball (beach & regular) and water polo are in higher demand because of where you are. The times that I swam on either coast were both positive experiences. It comes down to if the area that you are in offers a condusive environment to being fit. Yes, a person must motivate his/herself, but when you have the opportunities around you it is much easier.

NYC just won the US 2012 Olympic Bid.:D www.nyc2012.com Tell us again about how bad public transportation is here?

Originally posted by MetroSwim ... But why the heck would anyone drive around in a city with one of the most extensive and inexpensive Mass transit systems in the world? I get all around the city just fine by subway, bus, walking and even the occasional taxi. A subway and bus map are all you need to look at. Admittedly, there is a certain minimum amount of Savvy involved in living in New York. Clearly you didn't acquire it in your brief stay here. However to say that "New York and New Jersey are a downgrade in civilization third-world style"? :mad: Fighting words, Ion. I don't think you just left New York. I think you were deported. ... Not so, Rich: let's speak first hand knowledge of New York and New Jersey in 1998 and 1999 when I was there, and San Diego in 2000, 2001, 2002 when I am here. From New Milford in New Jersey, I was getting George Washington toll bridge ($4) to go to Asphalt Green. I was giving a ride to Steve Fisher, living in Tenafly, New Jersey, and who when commuting to Asphalt Green other than on my ride, was taking a bus across the bridge then a taxi. Living there longer than me, he confirmed my inquiry, which is that by public transportation one commutes by bus plus taxi. So, I gave myself and himself rides. Parking was in a garage at $9 per hour. I swam also with Doug Irgang at Asphalt Green, who died September 11, 2001. I told him in 1999 to come West. It is a lowlife of criminality and wrongdoing all over the streets of New Jersey and New York. In Fort Lee, New Jersey, at this fitness center, they tell me their puky 25 meters pool is Olympic size, they close it when it thunders outside even though it's an indoor pool, and they allow each customer to swim one per lane for thirty minutes after which the customer puts the name on a board with people waiting in line. At this YMCA in Morris Town, New Jersey, people cross the lanes when I am swimming, lifeguards are groggy, I pick a foot infection from their floor, two lifeguards pick the same foot infection from their floor, I go to the Hospital for IV, at the hospital I gave them my insurance papers, after my discharge other bureaucrats from the hospital call me to send them my insurance papers. That's just a few examples of pathetic, over there. In 1999 I quit my work there: I told them that life is more barbaric than Europe. A Belgian guy did the same a little before me. Today my day in San Diego was: .) in the morning I went to this French restaurant where the director chats with me in French, almost falls on the floor laughing at my past adventures in France, sometimes gives me treats, then I went to UCSD in public swim for a recovery workout from five Masters practices during the week; .) there I see the college team having finished their workout, the coach greets me, a beatiful varsity swimmer who sometimes came to Masters practices when I was there -knowing that I look for a program that prepares me for racing- tells me she can inquire about this UCSD coach who opened a new Masters program, so where can she get back to me with information? .) I do an easy long swim, alone in the lane for four hours, there are eighteen lanes in the 50 meters pool set on a 25 yards course, I listen to the radio, I watch competitive swimmers I know from Masters going 300 yards in 3:09 (split 59 at the 100), I chat with others Masters swimmers who tell me what they do and that it is "Good to see you.", then I take a shower outdoors (it's November 2 and sunny) and I tell people that this must be paradise; .) I drive on historic Pacific Highway 101 in light traffic, through picturesque Del Mar, Solana Beach and Cardiff by the Sea; .) in front of me, to my left, sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean sometimes pop up; .) to my right, there is a roller coaster and a railway going to Los Angeles; .) along the way fit, slim people run and bike (this area is the training ground of triathletes like Jurgen Zach (Ger) second in 1997 Ironman Hawaii, Paula Newby-Fraser (New Zealand) eight times winner of Ironman Hawaii, Chris McCormack (Aus), Spencer Smith (UK), Craig Alexander (Aus), Michellie Jones (Aus), Carol Montgomery (Can), Paul Huddle who come swimming to Masters workouts I do); .) I eat at the Beach House, and underneath the patio, the ocean waves are laying softly. Not a bad day.

Originally posted by MetroSwim NYC just won the US 2012 Olympic Bid.:D www.nyc2012.com Tell us again about how bad public transportation is here? New York City didn't open the Olympic bid for me -wanting to exercise every day like I do it in San Diego- or for people like me. They opened the Olympic bid firstly for profiteering television networks based in New York, secondly for athletes and spectators who go to the Olympics: like in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, this means dedicating transportation to Olympic venues during the Olympic Games only, transportation that is not in the ordinary New York lifestyle.

Originally posted by MetroSwim NYC just won the US 2012 Olympic Bid.:D www.nyc2012.com Tell us again about how bad public transportation is here? Interestingly, the unique thing about New York's bid is that it's based on using public transportation (actually special trains and ferry boats) for getting athletes to and from venues. They'll never need to deal with traffic (or find a parking space -- there really are some; the best current estimate is about 20). Does the USOC know that we don't have public transportation? :) Of course, in the interests of full disclosure, I suppose I should mention that I'm Assistant General Counsel of MTA-NYC Transit, so I'm totally unbiased. :)

Originally posted by KenChertoff Ion -- it may have escaped your attention, but Morristown and Tenafly are not in New York. When you cross the river, you go into a whole different state. Re-read my posts: it's New Jersey (Morristown, Tenafly, New Milford, Fort Lee) and New York (George Washington toll bridge, Asphalt Green). That's what my posts say: New Jersey, New York, yuk.

Originally posted by KenChertoff ... Of course, in the interests of full disclosure, I suppose I should mention that I'm Assistant General Counsel of MTA-NYC Transit, so I'm totally unbiased. :) Then tell me how one gets from New Milford (New Jersey) to Asphalt Green (New York), in the upper Manhattan at the junction of East River and Hudson River, 100% on public transportation? It's not possible, I was told. One takes a bus across George Washington bridge, then a taxi. Steve Fisher was doing that in 1998, before I was giving him rides in 1998 and 1999. For me it cost $4 on George Washington toll bridge, then $9 per hour in parking. Barbaric place.