One of my great pleasures of not doing the corporate gig now is my ability to go hiking at will. I try to do it 2 to 3 times a week, but as my schedule allows some weeks are better and some worse. I place I usually go is Rancho San Antonio in the foothills below Skyline ridge. It is convenient to get to, just off the 280 at the the junction of the 85, but still has an outback feel. I mostly love it because I don't see too many people when I hike on weekdays and there are always wildlife sightings. Today I saw a quail family trot across the path with at least a half a dozen little chicks - so cute! Also some deer, lizards and the always present birds. Over the course of the past year however I have seen a rattlesnake, rabbits and even wild turkeys! So, the environment I am describing is back-country enough that even the animals feel at home.
With that in mind, I almost laughed out loud when an early 40-something woman came briskly walking up the path toward me. She had in her cell phone ear bud chattering away while she gestured wildly from the conversation with an invisible friend on the other end of the line while trying not to spill the Venti sized Starbucks cup in one hand!!!
All I can say, only in silicon valley would you see this woman; Californians try at least keep up the appearance of a healthy lifestyle, even if the actual practice of it is a bit suspect!! (and only here would you get a cell signal where their aren't even roads!)