Why live in California?

All those comically perpetual 72-and-sunny days mean it’s likely you’ll live longer. According to a 2013 study, mortality rates jump during the winter season — but if you live in Southern California, your concept of winter functions more on the scale of when and where you’re getting your holiday shopping done rather than when you need to pull your puffy down coat from wherever it is you stored it during last winter’s apocalyptic snow storm… Oh. That’s right. There was no snow storm for us!
People who live by the beach report having better health. So all of those hundreds of miles of coastline mean that playing hooky every once in a while, justify how you need to buy just one more bathing suit, is all in the name of better health.
The farmer’s market and locavore cultures do a body good. The verdict’s still out on exactly how much better eating locally is for you, but just think of how many restaurants you know that are touting some new-aged #truth. Also, that fresh kale you threw into your canvas tote at the farmer’s market will have more nutrients than something picked days or a few weeks ago. You can maybe consider “local,” In-N-Out could kinda sorta count.)
All that outdoorsy-ness is like your second therapist. (Because everyone has one already.) Doing lunch on the patio? Even if it’s under a heat lamp, and or if you’re just watching the foliage go by from your car window, looking at nature offers stress relief in ways that your computer screensaver or that Instagram of your vacation can’t. So go ahead, revel in the jacarandas falling everywhere. You might get angry that the sap got on your car, but at least you won’t be stressed.
Outdoor concerts are therapeutic. A study showed that live music might help patients heal — at the very least, it boosts their moods, one called it a cure for the soul — so whether you’re at Coachella; the Hollywood Bowl; or one of the thousands of other live shows, concerts, festivals, and gigs at any time of the year, you’re good.
There are some really, really beautiful places to be alone.Seeking out solitude in a space of 22 million people can be hard, for sure, but it’s possible — and you should take as much alone time as you can for your own benefit. For what it’s worth, climbing into your car and just driving helps wonders (especially when you don’t hit traffic) and lord knows there’s a ton of highways and freeways for you to do that on.
A strong sense of community is always a good thing. How many people in Southern California have a tattoo or a phone case devoted to their town, or at the very least root for one of the teams? Rallying together helps create bonds and a sense of belonging. And yes, okay, suffering defeats like the season the Lakers just had helps in the whole resilience front — but there are ways to bounce back from that stronger.
Taking a day trip every now and again is essential to your health . If you live in an area of the world where you could, in theory, go to the beach in the morning, hightail it to the mountains for some skiing in the middle of the day, and then party it up in the desert at night, not only is that variety good for your workout routine (though the overexertion might do you in) but taking time off doesn’t feel like a staycation when you have so many great places to visit by car alone.
Vitamin D is essential for your body and your mood — and wherever you live in Southern California, chances are you’re getting more than your fair share of rays. Just, y’know, be sure to use the SPF 50.
Cities in Southern California routinely clock in on the “Healthiest Cities In The U.S.” roundups (there’s 3 on this top 10 alone) and I mean, we weren’t setting out to win medals for all that yoga and green juice, but hey, if you’re going to reward us for it, we’ll take the accolade for just doing us.