MY OLD HOME TOWN, TOPANGA
Topanga and its people
I loved Topanga, a little town I found, just 4 miles from the beach.
Well, that is to say, not exactly. I loved the topography, I loved the views, I loved the vast park - I created a home right alongside it - and I loved the ability to be private and oneself. I loved some of its amenities, especially "ELYSIUM", a now, sadly, defunct affair, a place where I took my children.
Elysium became Topanga in many ways, where people could relax the way they were born, which is to say, naked. I met many wonderful people there, not the least being my friend Noel, a caricaturist, who drew that splendid picture at the top of my site. And by the way, the poor guy just suffered a mild stroke followed by a quadruple heart bypass. He'll be O.K., he's getting back to work, and I'd like people to know about it, maybe hire him. Check out "Noel's Corner" on the left, where you can find his website.
Many actors, producers, lawyers, psychologists, court appointed child evaluators, and, yes, even judges, would hang out there. And no clothes to separate people or put them in their places or identify their ill-gotten societal gains. The vast community hot-tub was the place to be, hair really let down, and everyone completely equal. The soaring discussions could get to be amazing. I think the place is now owned by a hotel mogul, his private sanctuary.
But Topanga's people. Hmm. First there's a feel-good publication called The Messenger, owned by an ex friend of mine called Brodie, which steadfastly refuses to get into anything remotely controversial, like me, f'rinstance. Perhaps they're afraid of making a profit.
Close friends I made there can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The rest are either 60's dropouts, local blue-collars, rednecks, self-conscious artists, spiritually good people, real estate agents, and trendy professional newcomers who just don't belong but can't afford Malibu.
Did you see George Roy Hill's last film, "Funny Farm"? That's Topanga.
So, I got thrown out, and many people helped themselves to the goodies at the trough of my leavings, courtesy of my ex-wife and the courts. So, correction to my first sentence.
I hate Topanga.
