Now that I've had a chance to relax and review the past 10 days in my head I've made some decisions about where I'll be headed after graduation. Now my long term goal is to move to Costa Rica, but until that time I'm setting my sights west. The top priorities for the location are to have mild-warm weather year round, to not have a winter, a place where I could potentially start my skin and hair care business (or at least find a job in the field), and where I can get a nice place to live for a low price. Now I know this pretty much eliminates a good chunk of California, especially the parts close to the beach, but I don't have to be in Hollywood to be happy. When I was in Seattle I was on a mission to see the city's potential. The first thing I noticed was how clean the air was. Unlike in most California metro areas there was no smog. The views were also incredible because the city sits right on the harbor plus it has the Cascade Mountains in the background. The people there are very 'progressive'. I use this term loosely because although there message is current, there clothing is not. When I went down to Pike's Place (the market place) I was surrounded by hippies. And these weren't the modern day hipsters I see around Chicago who share the same philosophy, but actually look like they bathe. No these were the dirty hippies, with the white boys in dreadlocks. Nonetheless I tried to look past their apparel and look at their lifestyles, so I turned to their food. Everything to eat there was fresh! From the seafood, to the breads and desserts everything was fresh. I stopped in a restaurant to have a bite to eat with some friends of mine and I ordered the salmon burger. Let me tell you that fish tasted like it was fresh out the water, I could taste the ocean in that burger and it was a good thing. There were lots of vendors selling the latest gluten-free, organic, farm raised, locally owned produce and the best thing about it was that you could sample everything first. By the time we left I had consumed a second meal in samples alone. I was so inspired to get back in the kitchen to try and replicate some of the things I saw there. The only downside to the food there was that they favored sushi to tacos, which is a sentiment I refuse to agree with.
Another thing I noticed was the weather, on my first day it was absolutely beautiful, but when I returned it was gray and rainy. It wasn't even a downpour it was just drizzling all day and the local people told me this was their usual weather. This was a big downer for me because I really like the sun. I guess I have mixed feelings on the weather because on one hand I love sunshine, but on the other at least it isn't snow lol. Thus the dilemma. The land was also very hilly opposed to Illinois' very flat plains, but I think it enhanced the landscape and architecture.
I left Seattle with mixed feelings which lets me know that I should keep looking. My next stop in Washington will by in Olympia because that's where my friend Geoff lives and he claims to love it there, given there are less hippies and rain. I also need to visit Oregon and California soon. I've already seen what Arizona has to offer and I think that it's too hot with too much dessert, I prefer to have a little green. At least I'm able to narrow it down a bit though.
Until next time...
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