I have been wanting to go to California for as long as I can remember and each day, the feeling gets even stronger. Here’s a list of eight things that happen when you know you belong somewhere even if you’ve never actually been there:

1. Pictures kill you

Seeing pictures of such a beautiful place and almost feeling as if you have memories of it is the worst feeling because you know you’re not going there anytime soon. It’s like having a long lost family member that you didn’t even know you had until recently and knowing you're thousands of miles away from them.

2. You plan so many trips

It feels as if everything is holding you back.

3. You hear such amazing things from people who lived there

Meeting people and hearing how positively they speak about your place makes your heart soar.

4. The people, oh the people

Somehow you know there’s a group of people waiting for your arrival with open arms, you just have to make your way there first.

5. People think you’re crazy

How can you have such love and excitement for a place that you’ve never even been to?

6. You research about it as much as you can

Knowledge is so important and sometimes your interest and longing becomes a bit obsessive.

7. You feel as if you’re running out of time

Even though you know it’ll be there waiting for you, you still worry that you won’t make it there in time to see it’s people and it’s essence all at once.

8. You dream about it always

In the back of your mind, you don’t even know if you’ll end up liking it there but something is telling you that it’s the place for you.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but I know California is waiting for me and I can’t wait to finally hop on a plane and have the opportunity to take in all of its beauty.