Seven years since I’ve moved back to California.
I’ve always been mixed on California, to be honest. Of course it’s one of the most romanticized places. But it’s costly, and I know a lot of that cost goes to weather… and I actually prefer gray skies! Then you have a lot of nature between the forests and ocean, but the whole lower left quadrant of the state is an urban sprawl.
I’ve also always appreciated places that go overlooked and showing them a lot of love. California does not fit that bill. I find it pesky when Californians treat every other state as bland and generic without having ever been there.
But! It’s home right now, and it makes me want to put forth a good effort to appreciate it.
I love the diversity, both of nature and culture. I love that the church I used to live next to did its services in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Amharic. I love that one mile down the road near my house offers a Filipino, a Vietnamese, a Korean, and an Indian supermarket on four consecutive blocks.
I love the complexity of coastal ecosystems. I love the climate of a high desert. The green of the upper half and gold of the Central Coast.
Cali will always be a mixed bag for me. But it’s home, and you gotta learn to love that.
Bonus points to whoever can recognize all the spots in photos!