Although I now spend a majority of my time living in Colorado, there are just a few things I will stand by as a true Californian.

After growing up in southern California, then moving to Colorado for college there are a few things I have realized I have a bias to as a (southern) Californian.

1. The ocean. It is said that the ocean is a cure-all, or at least an emotional cure-all There is not a bad day that cannot be fixed by a walk on the beach or couple hours spent surfing. The ocean brings one closer to nature than anything else I have experienced (and yes, I have hiked quite a bit and I snowboard as often as any Colorado native). There is something about floating on the water that humbles you. You move with the water and the water moves with you, it is extremely therapeutic. Not to mention nature is in complete control as you paddle into a wall of water that could easily swallow you and hold you down with only one breath in your lungs. 

2. In ‘n Out is the best, will always be the best, no argument. I get irrationally and personally offended when someone tells me they don’t like In ‘n Out. What’s not to like? The menu is simple, the burgers are fresh, and their animal Fries taste just as good at 12 pm as they do at 12 am. That's something that can't be said about all fast food . 

3. I prefer earthquakes over any other natural disaster. You may think I’m crazy, but the idea of the ground shaking is a lot less scary to me than tornadoes and hurricanes.  

4. The weather—sure Colorado has about 300 days of sunshine a year but for at least fifty of those the ground is covered in snow. It is beautiful but you cannot enjoy the sunshine quite as much when all you want is to get somewhere warm. 

5. Gnarly can describe anything and anyone (this is mostly in southern California). I can recall a time snowboarding this past winter when I described someone we were riding with as “gnarly”. The person I was talking to looked at me so confused. Gnarly can be both good, bad, gross, excited. It is basically a super adjective. 

6. I do not know any celebrities. None. Although I live less than an hour from the Kardashians and there was once a rumor Justin Bieber would attend my high school, I do not personally know anyone famous—nor do I care to for that matter, we’re all just people aren’t we? 

7. The Dodgers, the Kings, and the Lakers. I will always support Los Angeles sports just because these are my teams. I have however jumped onto the Bronco’s bandwagon after moving to Colorado—mostly because L.A. doesn’t have a football team and I needed one to support during football season. 

8. Tans are something you earn, not something you buy. A true tan looks so much better than a spray tan does—not to mention it is free. A couple hours outside never hurt anyone—as long as you have a little SPF on to help prevent skin cancer of course. 

As much as I love California, I was born into these biases. Now having moved to Colorado, I am learning what it means to be a Coloradan as well. I will forever love both states I call home—these are just a few things I cannot help having been raised a Californian.