I love Washington.

Where I live makes me really happy. I grew up in California, and I loved it, but there are such vast differences between the two places, and it is these differences that make me love where I live so much.

When I was growing up, scarves and hats were fun items for my dress up box. Not items that I actually wore on a daily basis. Now I own more scarves and hats than any one woman should, and they are all used regularly. Scarves are my favorite accessories, and I believe it's positively unhealthy for a person to venture out in the fall and winter without a hat on. I love living somewhere where I can wear these things as more than just dress up items.

Next, and everybody say it with me: Seasons! Now, I have met quite a few transplants from the east coast who are quick to inform me that I haven't SEEN seasons until I've lived in [insert East Coast State here], but let me tell you, for this California girl who grew up with more palm trees than actual foliage, I did not know what Fall was until I moved to Washington. I love it. LOVE IT. I even enjoy the rain. Growing up we would get about one month of rain a year, and rain was probably not the right word, anyway. More like a drizzling. I love our windy, cold, sideways, pelting, sometimes slushy with snow rain.

My first white Christmas ever was my first Christmas in Washington. That was the Christmas of '96, known to people from my area as the year of "the Ice Storm". I love snow. Especially snow at Christmas.

I love that for me, Ugg boots are not a fashion statement, but the best possible way to keep feeling in my toes during our cold weather months.

Not to mention how green this state is. There are so many places to go and enjoy nature. I love beaches with rocks instead of sand. Call me crazy. I love that our state "gem" is petrified wood. No joke. That's amazing! So sorry to bore you all with my Washington state is the best talk, but living here makes me happy.