> I was in California six months ago and was taken aback by the lack of worry.

Exactly. I was there in April. It was surreal to me how normal everything seemed to me. I do not think reality sets in until you run out, which has happened to some towns in the Central Valley.

Edit: also, the fact that some residential areas are not metered seems nuts: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_25303957/california-dr...