I’ve been back on the East Coast for three months now after five years in California. Granted, I was born and raised here until I was 18, but even after just that short period of time, my heart has been converted. This Thanksgiving I spent five days in southern California and found plenty that I should have been more thankful for during the last five years. The list below is not a complete list, but rather, that which I could sample during my short visit.

1. Driving on wide roads

2.Large shopping plazas 

3. Palm tree-lined boulevards

4. The ability to buy alcohol in grocery stores

5. The ability to sample Asian drinks in American grocery stores

6. Good Asian food

7. Animal style fries with no salt and extra onions at In-N-Out

8. The breathtaking coastline 

9. Walking on the beach barefoot at the end of November

10. Watching the sunset over the Pacific