1. Warm weather and 0% humidity.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to living in California is the weather, especially if you’re not a fan of snow. Winters in the Bay are as beautiful as summers, though a little colder.

2. Coffee.

Peet’s Coffee originally started in the city of Berkeley, which might be why there is a Peet’s in every cafeteria on UC Berkeley’s campus. Other than Peet’s, however, Blue Bottle and Philz have redefined coffee brewed by the cup. And, our coffee shops look like art galleries.

3. Mexican food.

In the Bay, we eat our burritos “Mission style,” invented in San Francisco during the ‘60s. “Mission” style burritos include a variety of ingredients such as rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, and more.

4. In-N-Out.

In-N-Out’s burgers are legendary, but the highlight of the food joint is its secret menu. If you’ve never tried french fries “animal-style,” you have not lived.

5. Avocados: cheap and abundant.

Because avocados are plentiful in the Bay, this gives you many opportunities to experiment with new recipes. Also, homemade guacamole is the best kind of guacamole.

6. Foggy mornings.

Yes, the fog has a name: Karl. Karl the Fog. You can follow him on Twitter here, rife with puns like “Gonna mist you so much @BarackObama.” Same, Karl. Same.

7. Transportation.

No, BART and MUNI are not the same thing. When you get a Clipper Card (which I highly recommend), you can use it on both, but you have to scan your card every time you enter or leave a BART station. However, if you have a MUNI transfer pass, you can’t use it to get onto a BART station.

8. Sourdough bread.

Boudin Bakery is a San Francisco staple, known for its sourdough bread. Cold, foggy days call for a bread-bowled tomato soup with cheese on top.

9. We’re pretty good at making progress and changing the world.

Meet Harvey Milk. He was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in America, winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Meet Kamala Harris, Bay Area native. She spent 6 years as California’s attorney general, elected twice as San Francisco’s district attorney. Harris now represents California in the United States Senate, breaking records. She is the first Indian-American woman to ever serve in the Senate, as well as the first African-American woman to serve in the Senate since Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL).

Needless to say, the Bay Area is hella cool, and we’re waiting to welcome you to the place we call home!