Мари Москва: If ever there was an endless summer, this is it.

I don’t think I can call Cali’s famous attitude to life anything else but the Art of Coastal Living. You come here and realize that this place is obviously blessed by the Universe. It’s smth in the air that makes it special. May be salt from the ocean that you can’t actually rinse off. May be sand, that you have – not even kidding – everywhere, as soon as you step out of the plane. Your life just slows down all of a sudden, but surprisingly you have enough time for everything. There is no rush, even when you go 120 on a freeway. No rush when you surf. Or bike. Or board. It’s so laid back and easy here, your whole body is lazily catching warm sun rays, getting brown-ish from day to day, you inhale and exhale salty air as if you were doing yoga, calm, chill, centered. Here the only moisturizer you need to use is Ocean Potion sun block, instead of usual creams. The only fragrance is… sun block too. Here you look good with no makeup on, and the only essential accessory is sunglasses. Here shorts and bikini top is the ultimate dress code. Here surf brands are always in, season by season, year by year. Here it does matter how comfy and soft your flip flops are, and how many blocks away from the beach you live.

I’ve always said it’s all about the people, not place that matters. It is about the people, yes, but it’s also the place, that makes a whole lot of difference. It’s kinda of surreal to be here though, to have girls nights and friends’ reunions, to find out that someone got a new house or a dog, someone moved, someone stayed. It’s cool to stop by in places, that have been here forever and see people, who are still serving sandwiches in café 976 on Cass, and realize that their menu like never changed. It’s awesome to know exactly where the closest Trader Joe’s and the nearest post office are. It’s nice to chat with new bikini shoppe girls and pretend that you are just a regular customer here and have no clue what’s going on behind this counter. It feels so right to wake up early without my alarm set and go for a run at the beach. It’s gloomy and windy in the morning, really refreshing to run bare foot and catch the waves, and play in the water, and get all sandy and dirty lol. To stand still for a moment and just stare at the ocean. To breathe deeply and lose the train of thoughts you had on your mind.

Cali can inspire by just being California. Here I find the perfect mix of people, beaches, places, ocean waves. This state centers me down. People, who I came here for make me so happy. Cali associates me with deep turquoise color. A little darker than Tiffany’s, a little lighter than water in the Pacific. It’s the color of searching a little too long and then finally finding the perfect place. The perfect balance. The perfect yourself.