The Differences

Going from the Middle West to the West Coast is a bit like going from Atari to Playstation 3. Instead of flat left-to-right play all of a sudden a third dimension and a million colors are available. In the Middle West I knew lakes with neat circumferences. Now I’m part of a coastline that goes on to trace the shores of other countries. In the lakes and rivers of home I was comforted by the thought that I was the biggest thing in the water. Now I could be the tastiest thing within 100' of shore. In the flatness of Minneapolis I was used to seeing mostly what’s right in front of me. Here I see the streetscape, buildings, valley below, canyon on the other side, more buildings, mountains in the distance, some ocean and more sky further out, and all of this in one big fat lusty look. My mental GPS has been working overtime taking note of successful short cuts and every point of interest along the way. San Diego is quite hilly and it's completely possible to take a wrong turn and drive off a cliff sober in the middle of the day. Last but not least, I could put a multiplication symbol and two digit number after the words: Craftsmen Style House, Sushi Bar and Days of Sunshine. This is where I live.