I first came to Washington in August of 2016 to visit family. In addition to hitting up all the classic Seattle tourist spots, I explored the Olympic Peninsula and took a memorable WA State ferry ride to the San Juan islands. I hiked through a rainforest, witnessed killer whales hunting seals in the frigid waters of the Salish Sea, took in iconic views of Mt Rainier, all the while falling madly for this mystical wonderland. By end of October, I had moved to Seattle. And when those long, grey, rainy days of winter envelop me, I head south to put my toes in the sand and soak in the sun therapy of southern California. Whether bathed in sun or covered in snow, I still find myself wrapped in a love affair with this place I'm fortunate to call home.