When I moved to Northern California I traded winter snowstorms for torrential downpours (and a few 'heavy smoke' days from summer wildfires). Whereas nothing without fur can survive outdoors during an East Coast winter, creepy crawlies have plenty of refuge during a West Coast rainstorm. Mainly, my house and place of business (interestingly enough, though my housekeeping skills have been seriously lacking lately, I've only spotted a few random ants in the kitchen - as opposed to last year when... Sign in to see full entry.