As I look outside my home office window at a grapefruit tree, I have to admit that I have yet to eat a single grapefruit fresh from my very own tree. That's my first clue that even though I moved to California nine months ago, I'm not really living here. But in 2011 I'm going to change all of that and go full California. That's right -- all the way.
I'm going to shed my New Yorker'ness and start smiling at people at the grocery store. I'm going to stop fearing driving due to lack of parking, and start using valet if I have to. I'm going to head to the beach on the weekends and then go for a hike. You can do that here because on one side you've got the beach, the other side the mountains. How amazing is that? Before I had the East River on one side, and Gowanus Canal on the other. And I'm not sure if you're even allowed to put your kayak in either one of those bodies of water.
But most importantly, I'm going for the big three:
- Yoga
- Veg
- Meditate
Okay, maybe not all three at once. But I will renew my commitment to exercise and yoga feels the most California to me. I can throw in some meditation (UCLA has a great online resource for non-Californians as well), and while I tried to go vegetarian before, I'll keep trying to institute these changes into my diet.
I know it will take a lot to shake off more than a decade of New York, and honestly I'd prefer to maintain some of that edge. If for no other reason than to assist me with my defensive driving skills out here. But when you live somewhere that offers ample opportunity to chill out, you've got to embrace the lifestyle. Otherwise, you're just living in an almost-bankrupt state that could be taken down by an earthquake-tsunami at any moment for what? The weather? Yeah, okay, the weather is pretty great too. And excuse me, as I get myself out in it as I go to pick up my lunch at Tender Greens. They have valet.
Namaste.
Image via Flavio@Flickr/Flickr
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Comments 18
Sounds peaceful!
Yoga is relaxing =-) enjoy!
I'll take some of those grapefruits.
I would love to do more yoga too. I do it here and there but not enough to really count. I still want to run a 1/2 marathon at some point this year. I have to first hit a 5k though.
Wow that picture is ummmm....
Thank for the link to UCLA and their meditations. I'm constantly stressing out, which means that my mind wanders the minute I sit down to meditate. These just might help me to keep my focus.
*thank YOU, I meant thank YOU...
ummm yeah I live in CA, in fact, I live in Los Angeles and I don't do any of those things lol ok wait, does yoga on the wii fit plus count? it makes me do it LOL
As a born and bred Californian I will say this....don't embrace too much. Trust me you do not want to become one of those damn dirty hippies. I personally do not find yoga relaxing (I have been to several different classes with several different teachers and I never liked it, not once) and I will never go vegetarian HELLOOOOO BACON! Meditating I could probably use more of. But I am so sick of the tree-hugging-prius-driving-self-righteous-hippies. I'm so tired of every little thing I do I have to think about my "environmental impact" and all the other stupid little politics that go on that you will start to notice slowly. But you have only been here 9 months, I have been here for 25 years (and counting) and I can tell you, the CA lifestyle isn't all that it has cracked up to be. Oh and in case you haven't noticed, most people in CA don't know how to drive. I'm sure you whitnessed this during all our rain and how they just freak out over a little water falling from the sky.
I say do what works for you, but if any of those things are making you unhappy or more stressed out, don't feel bad about not doing it anymore. You shouldn't have to feel like you have to do any of those things to fit into the "California Lifestyle".