I've been lucky enough to go to the West Coast a couple of times, and each time, I fall more and more in love. I don't know if it's the sun, the people, the sights, the vibes, or a perfectly harmonized combination of them all, but every time I go, I can't get enough. I have plans to go back and see more of the states I've already been to and the states I haven't gotten to yet. Either way, the West Coast has already taught me so much.
1. We are so small.
Have you ever sat at the edge of the Grand Canyon? Or sat in a field of wildflowers in Nevada? Or sat in a car overlooking LA? And wondered, how the hell is this big of a place even here? We are so small, and I don't mean that in a bad way at all. It puts you in perspective that the things we worry about--the people that keep us up at night that are probably not worth it, the places we rush to, etc.--are not huge deals in the grand scheme of things; there is so much more out there in the world than the tedious little things that bother us. It also reminds you how many other people there are in the world that you have yet to meet. It's weirdly comforting.
2. Time is all relative.
You're going to wait 15 minutes to get a sandwich that you would get in under five in New York. It's just a matter of fact. You're going to get stuck in traffic, not because of the mass amounts of people, but because people are just not in as much of a rush. You will get there when you get there. You don't need a plan. In New York, it's been bred in me to get good grades, learn about things that I probably won't apply outside of the classroom, graduate, have a great resumé, get a great job, make a lot of money, etc. I'm not saying that doesn't exist on the West Coast--it totally does--but there is more liberty to be slower with your plan, to learn things outdoors, to quit your job and travel with your friends. Again, you'll get there when you get there.
3. People rule.
I already knew this, don't get me wrong. People on the East Coast are awesome too, but people just smile and wave and want to know how your day is going so much more on the West Coast. The fast-paced nature of New York derives us of this opportunity. It's not to say it doesn't happen, but it's hard to have a conversation on the 2 train while you're trying to read Conrad before class. My most recent trip out West, I spent with my sister, a family friend, and two people I had met within 24 hours of heading back to New York. Three hours before my flight we were all in a tattoo shop getting matching ink to stay connected for life. I have a matching tattoo with a guy and a girl that I met 12 hours and 24 hours before I got the tattoo, respectively, and I have more love for them than I have for some people I've known for years.
Nothing quite compares to West Coast vibes. I am forever grateful and forever yearning for more. I know I'll be back, maybe next time with my belongings strapped to my back and a new address ending in CA.
