Behind the Orange Curtain

When I looked at my calendar today, I realized that we moved to Laguna Beach exactly three years ago. After packing up our house and cutting our possessions in half, we headed south for a simpler life. Less traffic, fresher air and a strong sense of community are some of the reasons we chose Laguna. Or more simply, it was the only place my husband showed me where I didn’t burst into tears.

At the time, my LA friends teased me that I was moving behind the Orange Curtain. In order to make my case to those poor souls still living up north, I have compiled the following Top Ten Reasons to Live in Laguna:

10. Laguna Beach is sixty miles from Los Angeles.
That’s the good and the bad of it. How wonderful to be close yet so far away from the Getty, Canter’s Deli, smog filled skies and Paris Hilton wannabes.

9. The traffic follows the seasons.
The traffic and crowds in Los Angeles used to drive me crazy. I would sit in my car yelling, “Where is everyone going? What is the problem here?” Now, I know based on the season when to avoid downtown.

8. Cute Firemen reside in the heart of downtown.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about the village entrance--I am completely content to drive past the Firehouse on Forest Avenue, especially when it’s polishing time.

7. You don’t have to watch the MTV television show, Laguna Beach.
Why would you watch the show--you live here. And if you do tune in, beware. It might have an adverse affect on you like it does my husband. Every time he sees it, he yells, “That’s it. We’re moving.”

6. Miss Linda’s Castle continues to entertain.
Where else can I take my children to learn how to dance and be entertained at the same time? I keep expecting a cocktail waitress to stop by and take my drink order, which would frankly make getting up early on Saturday morning a whole lot easier.

5. Dance, art and music are everywhere.
I recently saw The Parsons Dance Company perform at the CaDance Festival and was blown away by the movement and creatvity. So were the women who sat next to me—one from LA, the other from New York.

4. The flip-flop fashion code prevails.
Forget the Manolos and Michael Kors, the only shoes one needs in Laguna is flip-flops. The other day, I wore a dress with my Havaianas sandals and received the nicest compliment. Now maybe it was because I never wear dresses, but I am sure the shoes helped.

3. My telephone bills are at an all time low.
There is no need to use the phone since news travel fast. One or two chats with my neighbors and I am up to date. A quick phone call to a girlfriend and every one knows my news too. That’s called community.

2. Jan Brady lives here.
I have spent most of my life trying to be a Brady from the Brady Bunch--I got braces like Jan, broke my nose like Marsha, and got married like Carol. These days, I feel more like Alice, doing laundry and chasing kids. I do, however, have an occasional Mike and Carol moment with my husband--we sit in his office and smirk over how funny our children are.

1. The surf and the sand
My kids and I still say good morning to the ocean on our way to school. The ocean breeze and deep blue horizon can turn my mood around in an instant. And if that doesn’t work right away, there’s always a hot coffee and donut waiting for me at South Swell Donuts. Now that’s my kind of curtain, especially if one prefers sheers.