Living in Southern California...for the second first time.

In the past year my wife and I moved from the Monterey, California area, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and then back to California.  But this time we aren't in the sparsely populated (by comparison) Monterey Peninsula.  Instead, we are in Van Nuys (part of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area).  Now, just as a point of reference, there are approximately 19 million people in the L.A. area.  There are 3.5 million people (give or take) in the entire state of Mississippi.  Human Density is, well, something I don't do particularly well with.  (Forgive me Dr. Looper for ending a sentence with a preposition.)

Having said that, I'm amazed at how much I enjoy living with and near all these crazy people.  From the window I'm sitting near, cars are whizzing by and I can see Thrifty Telephone Answering Services, a shop simply called "Donuts", an insurance company called "Insurance", apparently, a Clinica Medica, the New Style Beauty Salon, something called "Ria", and a 7-11.  

And all that is just on the corner I can see.

Yet, a couple miles from here is my apartment that offers me a 200+ degree view of amazing mountains, palm trees, and a never ending landscape of the tops of homes from my third story balcony.  I've had the best mexican food in my life by accident a couple weeks ago here, and there are too many independent restaurants for me to possibly eat in over the next several years....within walking distance from my apartment.

So, maybe something has shifted in me.  I'm digging the variety, the diversity, and the possibilities.  I"ll put up with all you people in the meantime.