My family spends the 4th at my wife's cousin's place for the neighborhood fireworks. This year felt different (some of her cousins, nephews and nieces weren't able to make it) in a certain capacity.

The whole ICE thing I have had anxiety over has kind of worn out. I mean  it still is a real situation, it affects me directly but just worrying about it has left me (for the most part). It's just a sucky situation if something where to ever happen.

One of my wife's cousin, who is conservative. I don't think he's necessarily MAGA, but he's against taxes, pro 2nd amendment, etc etc etc.

This is probably the most political I'll get. I've never been one to rant, but I do have my views and I always share them with my wife. I do think about updating party affiliation to Independent. Few reasons. One being targeted by MAGA. The other is not being happy with the Democrats either. Maybe they're voices are being drowned out in the media, but I just don't see or feel them fighting back except for a select few.  

Final words... I'm a never Trumper. I'm not down with MAGA at all. However, democrats are not any better. I do find myself more center over the pass years, but lean left. I can only control what I can control. It's hard at times to feel that way with how things are going, but I try to make the lives of everyone around me better and try not to go full gloom and doom with how the nation is.

I'm for capitalism, but I also see value in socialist things (libraries, fire department, universal healthcare, etc etc). My wife's cousin is against Taxes, but I think they're necessary. They help improve your community, roads, transportations, etc.

Also, whether it's Maga Media or Crypto Twitter... I just see this hate/disdain for California. How it's too expensive. How people hate it, yet I read subreddits of other states hating on people who flee California (who have gripes with the state) yet are making there new state (whether it be Texas, Nevada, Arizona) into the state they left.

It's a weird feeling. Yes, I get it California is not affordable, but people who leave the state always want to come back. Yes, there's a price for living here. It's not for everyone, and there are other parts of California that are affordable.

This the first time I heard him talk about it. In some ways, I get where he's coming from. He's not there to try to change anyones minds as he's also not trying to change his thoughts as well. However, there's one thing he said that I get... "you can only control what you can control. What my beliefs and ideals are, aren't for others but that's just how I view and live by things.

I'm not in the mindset of "hey let everyone carry a gun. it will make streets safer, because criminals will be criminals". However, I'm not anti-guns. I do believe there should be proper screenings that should be done. I don't own a firearm, but as I get older and having a family I do see the lure of owning one for protection.