GFT Publishing - Laurie Brown's My Place

{image.index}/{image.total}

EasyRotator

My home is in Newport Beach, which lies on the western edge of southern California. The house sits on the side of a hill in a neighborhood located about three miles from the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day I can see the blue-gray water in the distance. It is always pleasurable and reassuring to view the far horizon, its level line marking the visual juncture of sea and sky.

At this latitude the southern California climate is usually mild and the terrain semi-arid. Beyond my home the open hills are covered with wild grasses, prickly pear cactus, and fragrant coastal sage. And not far from my house are a few dense urban centers and many suburban neighborhoods. In addition, our area includes a myriad of beaches, parks, and wilderness spaces. Luckily, we can take advantage of both a lively city culture and the numerous places where we and others enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.

For nearly all of my life I have lived surrounded by the open spaces and wondrous quality of light that are unique to southern California. When I turned four, my father was offered a teaching position at the University of California at Los Angeles in Westwood. So I grew up and spent my teenage years in Los Angeles, just a little over an hour's drive north of my present home in Newport Beach.

A day spent in Los Angeles, with its wonderful museums, theaters, and cultural offerings, is usually enjoyable and rewarding. I go there often. Situated on the Pacific Rim and less than a half-day's drive from Mexico to the south, Los Angeles offers an exciting mix and variety of influences and cultures.

How very fortunate I am to reside in the beautiful, relaxed community of Newport Beach, near my childhood home of Los Angeles, one of the most important metropolitan centers in the nation. I cannot think of any place I would rather be than here.