[Citations.]" ( Hall v. Superior Court (1963) 211 Cal.App.2d 634, 640; Carnation Co. v. El Rey Cheese Co. (1948) 88 Cal.App.2d 857.) Although appellants are correct in urging that a defendant has "`an ancient and valuable right'" to have an action tried in the county of his residence ( Carnation Co., at p. 859), venue for an action to enforce a contractual obligation is also proper in the county where the obligation arose.