Although bombastically stating that America is the best place on earth is almost always never a smart move while traveling, I will proudly and eagerly defend California to the death whenever people abroad ask me where I come from
And okay, my friends and readers are probably thinking “she’s not even actually from there!” But hey, I lived and spent enough time in the golden state to know that California is as close to heaven as it gets in terms of living, partying and relaxing. Here are just a few things you will miss as soon as you leave the Promised Land that make you realize you will always find your way back to the Golden State.
1. Mexican food (unless you went to Mexico in which case, GG.)
Anyone who has had a California burrito knows that it’s the finest thing America has to offer. Not a day goes by that I don’t ask God to send me a decent taco or a bottle of tequila that is not Jose Cuervo.
2. Craft beer
Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada and Pyramid are names that often come to mind every time I morosely sip on my caña of Mahou in Spain.
3. Ethnic diversity
The state definitely has diversity on lock with its plethora of ethnic minorities, immigrants and multiracial residents, one of the main reasons it’s such an awesome place to live (and eat).
4. The music scene
Whenever your favorite band goes on tour you always know they’ll be making a stop in at least two cities in California. Good luck finding those odds anywhere else in the world.
5. The greens
By which I obviously mean the gorgeous natural landscapes of the Pacific Coast, Yosemite, Big Sur, the Sequoias, the Sierra Nevada and everything in between. What other kind of greens could I possibly mean?
6. Las Vegas
Vegas might as well count as California considering how often we go there. Nothing beats that sweet, spontaneous 3 hour freedom ride from L.A on Friday nights.
7. The fads
No matter how dumb I think some trending fads may be, I’m still amused by all the random crazes hip people momentarily endorse whether it be juicing, “Mean Girls” or jeggings. Everyone is either trendsetting or styling with the latest.
8. People you won’t meet anywhere else
California is chockfull of the cool, the beautiful and the weird. Artists, pop stars, hustlers, queers, hippies and dreamers. They’re all here and you will not come across many places in the world where with an assortment of people this diverse and unique.
9. Predictable weather
Some of us actually like having only one season. So whether you’re from L.A. where it never rains or from San Francisco where it’s always cloudy, you will sincerely miss knowing that the weather tomorrow will more or less look exactly as it did today.
10. The feeling that you are at the center of the world
Let’s face it, being in California makes you feel like you are where the best action and innovation is at all times. Everything cool comes from California from Uber to iPhones to basically every smartphone app, from James Franco to Dr. Dre to Katy Perry, from avocados to kale to wine—the list goes on and on. Just like I tell each and every stranger that I encounter abroad, I miss Cali and it is as good as it gets when it comes to perfect living conditions.
