Those who don’t live here just don’t get it

The state of California is home to wildfires, earthquakes, high rent, high electricity, high gas prices and homeslessness. Many who don’t live in the state, and many who do, question what’s so special about California and why you would want to live with all these hard and questionable factors for quality of life. It’s a question that’s expected. I got it a ton when I chose to go to college in California from Maryland, but here’s why I would never want to move anywhere else.

When many think of California they think the typical cliches like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Venice Beach and Rodeo Drive. Those places are good for a quick photo op but then you see how they are infested with the “dream” of Los Angeles, not the reality. Not the way that I see it. I used to live in California when I was younger before I moved to the East Coast and whenever I reminisce about my happiest childhood memories, one in particular always comes to mind.

The farmers market on Sunday holds such a special place in my heart. My sister and I would wake up bright-and-early running to our parents’ bed and pull open the curtains to let the California sunshine seep into the dark Victorian style room. I’d pick out my outfit from a closet that was filled to the brim with Limited Too, my mom would go down the checklist of the necessities for the day before packing the whole family into the car, like my roller blades, blanket, sunglasses and a basket to bring home all our goodies. Then we’d be on our way.

After a 30-minute drive through the fast-paced, yet inevitably traffic-filled, freeways, we’d arrive at the market. My dad would struggle to find parking and beep at everyone who got in our way. My mom would get our stuff together once we got out of the car. My sister and I would keep our eye on the prize of the vendors we wanted to attack first because we thought they’d run out of all their food by the time we got there. They never did and surely enough the man serving the one-foot hot dogs would greet Jenn and me with the same inviting smile that I wish I saw more of today.

I know some might say that every state has farmers markets and that’s true, but

Sandra Karsli, College Area