I have lived in Lake County all of my life.

Born in Ft Bragg, no hospitals in Lake County then. I remember when Soda Bay Road didn't go to Buckingham. It stopped at an orchard just up from Soda Bay Market which is now the corner of Bergeson and Soda Bay Road. Not where it is now.

I remember having to go to Loch Lomond to get to Lower Lake. The highway didn't exist then.

I remember riding our horses on the unfinished new road to Lakeport from Lower Lake.

I remember when everyone had guns, everyone smoked, everyone hung out at the Lakeview Tavern on Soda Bay. And everyone went to the Harbor Inn across the lake for the bar stool races.

I remember when people were friends and tolerant of faults. We all have them.

Once upon a time, I knew everyone in Lake County. No more. People are moving here with attitudes and city ways – homeowners associations and creating the very environment they were trying to get away from when they came here.

I am fortunate to have a ranch ... an insulator from these things. Until my young friend was killed at his store in Kelseyville.

I remember when we were all friends.

Andrew McEvans lives in Kelseyville, Calif.