California yoga is no joke.

You would think New York has the best of everything and the yoga people there are pretty impressive until you come to the studios in San Francisco. They seem to give it another layer of skillfulness, a seriousness, and devotion that only a calm and tranquil life could bring.

Indeed, as you get to know this city more–the highest income per capita and the bluest city in the U.S–you understand that there is solid ground for the general well being of the people in this city. With a salary that could compete with New York, it has only one tenth of New York’s population, which means you could walk un-harrassed on a clean street with lots of plants to look at.

Everywhere you look there is a public tennis court, a, probably world-class, public golf course, and lush California plants and flowers. It’s said San Francisco is more or less a square of seven miles by seven miles. So no matter where you live in this city, you are never very far from the ocean, and there is Golden Gate Park, no worse than Central Park, for you to stroll or bike in.

Admitted that no other museum could compete with the Met in New York. But the ones here–California Academy of Science, Exploratorium among others–offer you a refreshing view of what modern museums could do. Never did I gain so much self-knowledge in a museum setting: examine yourself, your fellow human beings, your surroundings and the universe you yourself–who are actually made of stars (not only a romantic but a scientific view)–are part of, the museums say.

Mini walking trips within the city, biking among lofty pine trees and next to the Pacific Ocean, the weather is never so hush, the crowd never so demanding that it inspires the savage survival instincts that makes New York fierce and aggressive and lively and so interesting and draining.

I love being greeted by a smiling stranger on a walk. It now fits the articles and books I read about this city: it says you are either moderate Democrat or progressive Democrat and you grant everyone his right to live and earn his bread.

And I’m discovering books, literature written by Chinese who came before me living here in California. New York is so strong that it sweeps you along and everyone in it has to be a New Yorker. Here in this new front, the new world of the New World, there is space enough for you to be yourself and I’m learning.

I’m kneely and a little embarrassingly aware that I’m not one of them–highest income per capita. I’m not that capita and I’m not earning my keep. And yet, and yet, every single day that I’m granted here, I’m going to make a moment out of it and I’m determined to make my mark. I’m determined to be happy in this city.