The smell of salty sea mist always makes me homesick. I grew up in Arcata, a few hours south of the Oregon border on the California coastline. It’s always funny when I tell people I’m from California and they immediately remark on how nice it must have been to grow up in the constant sunshine. Humboldt County is a different kind of California. It’s a rugged and rocky coastline that is almost always blanketed in a thick fog, rarely inching above 65 degrees. It’s the most beautiful mixture of ocean and forest, the Oregon coast comes close but nothing can top the majestic redwoods perched above the ocean like you see down there.

We took a trip back home to visit our families a few weeks ago and were greeted with the typical Humboldt fog. I used to think it was completely oppressive (oh teenage angst) but now it just seems painfully romantic. I love the seasons we have here in Portland but I do miss that misty ocean grey.

Do you miss where you grew up? Did you take it for granted? I love going back there but I think Portland is a better fit for us right now. Maybe we’ll move back someday when we’re old and grey.