California has always been my escape from the rest of the world, I’ve been going there every summer since I was a little kid. More specifically, Southern California. I don’t favor one city specifically, even though I do love Los Angeles and San Diego; but every place in between has its own unique feel that I love too. I can never really put my finger on what exactly is so great about it. I never feel like a tourist when I’m there. I feel like everything is in a perfect balance when I’m driving down the coastline looking at the ocean to the side of me. The air feels cleaner when you inhale, and the sun doesn’t feel so harsh on your skin. Everyone around you seems like they’re just happy to be alive.

I’ve never seen so many people outside, walking and talking, just living. Growing up in Arizona, I feel as though I almost never see people outside on walks or riding their bikes for a large majority of the year because of the weather. My point is, it’s nice to be able to go outside and enjoy the summer rather than burning to a crisp for being in the sun longer than five minutes. The weather seems to put everyone in a perpetual state of being in a good mood, I mean maybe that’s just me generalizing everyone else because I love it so much, but I think it’s true.

In the past year, I’ve been going to California on basically every break I can. I visited my friends in San Diego last April, over the summer, and again over the last spring break, and I’m about to be there again at the beginning of June. It’s funny, because I feel like I have a better social life somewhere I don’t live, or even go to school. I’ve evolved so much as a person because of these people and this place; and that only adds to the magic that I already attribute to it.

I don’t see my friends in California very often, yet I feel that I can relate so much more to them than I can to the majority of people I see on a regular basis in Arizona. So, because of this I feel like I should be living there, but honestly I’m scared of change, and the thought that maybe if I move there; the magic will fade into reality. I guess that happens with everything in life, once we get used to something the facade weakens. And I suppose that’s why I don’t particularly like Arizona; since I grew up here and I know it front to back.

I realize that a lot of people my age don’t necessarily like their hometowns either; but that doesn’t lessen my desire to leave this place and strive to grow somewhere else like California. I know that it’s possible to improve upon yourself and be successful in places other than Los Angeles, but it sure sounds a lot better than being here.