You take the good, you take the bad...

We are a few short weeks away from trading in this California paradise for the humidity, bugs, and snow that make the Midwest so charming. I am very excited to go, and am feeling very optimistic about the changes we are about to face. But in light of all these changes, I thought I'd make a little list to help make it easier to go (and because a girl can never have too many lists. I know, you get that I love lists. Tough.)

Things I will not miss when I leave California:

• May Gray (the annoying phenomenon that occurs every year in which the sun does not come out for the entire month of May - and can sometimes stretch into what the locals call "June Gloom." Yes, I know you don't feel sorry for me, but still. Gray is gray, no matter what else you get all year long).
• Having my kids bump the doors of the Bentley parked next to us at the grocery store (accidentally, of course) and then running like mad when the alarm goes off. (WHY spend that much money on a car? WHY? I just don't get it).
• House hunting for tiny shoe-box houses that cost a million dollars.
• Living in this rental condo.
• Having no yard in which to send the children out to.
• Govehnuh Ahnold on the t.v. commercials shouting exuberantly while flashing his big, toothy grin, "Welcome to Caleeeefohnya."
• Living within the jurisdiction of the Governor Terminator. Seriously.
• Hanging out with all the Spanish nannies at the park.
• The ridiculously high gas prices (we're about the highest in the nation on average, and I just grit my teeth every time I fill up my big, gas-guzzling SUV).
• The massive amount of money I spend on sunscreen (especially great given that the elementary school does not contain an indoor cafeteria. Something I never knew existed. The kids eat lunch outside. Every day. All year long.)
• Picking my husband up at the airport late Friday night with sleepy kids in the backseat.
• Dropping my husband off at the airport Sunday afternoon and counting the seconds until he's back again.

Things I will greatly miss here in Caleeeefohnya:

• The beach (did I mention that we live about three minutes from the ocean? Did I? Sigh.)
• All that lovely year-round sunshine (except for May and June obviously).
• Sea World and The Zoo. Seriously just the best.
• Cheap pedicures.
• All the friends we've made.
• Sbicca in Del Mar (one of my favorite restaurants here).
• Outdoor shopping malls. Yes, in which you can walk and shop outside all year long. Yet another thing I never knew existed until we moved here.
• Absolutely fantastic Mexican food.
• In-N-Out Burger.
• Fresh avocados at roadside farm stands (20 avocados for two bucks - I'm not kidding).
• The beach.
• Not shoveling snow all winter.
• Not even owning a single snow boot, mitten, or winter hat. (Because I gleefully threw them all out when we left Boston).
• Swimming in our outdoor pool in January. And loving it.
• The beach.
• The beach.
• Calling our landlord when something breaks and letting it be THEIR problem.
• Perfectly, gloriously, boring weather in which it is 75 every day and sunny (almost - curse that MAY GRAY).
• The palm trees. I just never got over them. They are so cool.

We have made some wonderful memories. It's been a fantastic year and we will truly miss it here. But, adventure calls us elsewhere. Thanks for a great year Caleeeefohnya. WE'LL BE BACK (at least to visit, for sure).