I Love California Reason #464

So, we whine entirely too much about living here. Oh poooor me, rent is expensive...I got here 40 years after the hippy movement....it's soooo sunny here.

I know, we're ridiculous.

Now that our time here is nearing a close (somewhere in 2010,) I thought it fitting to buck up and be grateful for the lovely things this state has to offer. Most of all it's the lack of snow we love.
We do like it here a lot. It's just that we have what I like to call geographical ADD...we're too focused on what's next.

Today, my attempt and being grateful in the now:

10. San Francisco. We don't visit you often enough, but when we do, you rock our world. We love your Golden Gate, your bay views, and even your crappy weather-because it makes us feel at home!

9. Stanford & MIIS. Thanks for those degrees, finished and pending. How lucky we are to get a world class education from such fine institutions.

8. Protesters. Whatever you're protesting. You give me the California of 40 years ago I longed to see.

7. Stanford Mall. Pratik may not agree, but it's so lovely to live near such a fine establishment. A mall on campus-what a concept!

6. Grocery stores. How you spoil me with your always fresh local produce all year round, reusable bags and free-range and cage free selections. I know, Whole Foods is nation-wide and I love it. But I also love Mollie Stones and Country Sun-especially for their organic gift selection. You've made me a more green and conscious shopper.

5. The housing market. I know, it's a strange one. But knowing what's out here will make me so much for grateful for whatever four walls are in our future...even if they do say "Frigidaire" on the side.

4. Palo Alto. From those grocery stores to my workplace, you've taught me the importance of the word "local."

3. Parking Lots. I love your warnings. "Did you remember your reusable bag?" Where else but California would you find a warning that exhaust fumes are known to the state of California to cause cancer!

2. Dog friendly establishments! I can take Molly everywhere, even to Nordstrom's. That's the way it should be! It's children that should be restricted in public :)

1. Weather, I love you weather. I will enjoy you here no matter what, no complaints, rain or shine. I will enjoy you while I can, before we inevitably move back to snow and ice. For now, victory over the snow bunnies is MINE! We know not what wind chill is anymore...this week's high will be 76 degrees. Eat your hearts out!