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| California Coastline at Laguna Beach by kancp26 |
As my husband and I prepare to leave Southern California in just 2 days, only 1 day past the 6 month mark of becoming residents here, so much is going through my mind.
SoCal has always been a part of our lives. We vacationed here for years and eventually bought a second home in Palm Springs, CA. Then we moved here, knowing it would be a stop along the way to somewhere else- but not realizing the stop was only going to be short one.
So as we move on, I will bid California farewell with this:
Dear California,
You are beautiful. It is true. Your beauty is varied and seemingly endless.
You are warm and bright. Your skies are bluer than I could have ever imagined.
There is just so much to do here. I now understand why Mark Twain said he wondered how anyone in California could ever die because everyone is so healthy here.
Your attitude is laid back and your people are more excited to greet the weekend or a holiday than anyone else I have ever met. I am still so surprised to be told 'Happy Weekend' starting on a Thursday!
However, my dear California, I have also learned some truths about you. You are crowded beyond belief. Your traffic and costs are out of this world. Its not fun to try to get to do all the wonderful stuff you have to offer when it's nearly impossible to get to those activities. It feels like there ought to be another form of currency here so normal people can do such exotic things as buy a house or retire. And California, your limits on freedom are certainly not for me. It seems that your people are fine and good with tiny loud places to live and paychecks spread ultra thin while more and more rules drop into their lives via the government.
Oh California, how I wish I could keep your warm sun and live at the beach one day. How I know that this experience of 6 short months will forever change how I look at life. I will remember and relish the feeling of knowing that I can make it in a new home. I will appreciate the fact that there is no perfect place and that everyone must find what works for them. California, you didn't work for us. We will visit you and we won't wonder 'what if'. We are moving on.
