There was a past version of me in college that was a scientist, and that scientist would be lucky enough to attend conferences around the country. About 2 years ago, one of those conferences was in San Diego, California. This was pretty new territory for me and honestly still is - I haven’t been able to go out and see the West Coast as much as I would like to. The only state I’ve been to out there is California, and a long long time ago I was in Orange County, but I don’t really remember that. Anyway, back on track.

Of course, this was also the first time I was able to try In-N-Out. I give it a solid 7/10. It definitely beats most of the fast food burger chains here on the East Coast, that’s for sure.

And another thing, the people and culture on the West is very different than the East. I expected this, but until I was immersed in it, and lived in it (even for a few days) I didn’t actually realize the stark difference. West Coast culture is very laid back - people are big on outdoor activities, wellness, and embracing creativity. On the flip side, the East Coast has a faster pace, with a stronger focus on history, tradition, and established institutions. While the West feels more relaxed and experimental, the East tends to have a more structured, classic feel. West coast folks go with the flow, and I really do admire that mentality (even though the east coast in me is screaming otherwise).