California, the Golden State, is known for its vast expanse and breathtaking beauty. Since Lewis and Clark first wrote and spoke of its wonders, California has offered the promise of great potential and unlimited success. People came by the thousands, and despite the crowding cities, pollution and the volatile earth beneath, they are still coming. Celebrated to mythic proportions in music, literature, and film, the name 'California' itself has come to represent plenitude and arguably much of that meaning involves finding success, love, and personal freedom. The culture that has risen from the state has always fueled this fire - from the discovery of gold, to surf culture, to Hollywood, with daydreams of movie stars bronzing under swaying palms or gracefully dipping into the cool azure of swimming pools, unfettered by the rigors of the workday the rest of us face. No matter how exaggerated or improbable, the promise of California continues to inspire and draw people from all over the world.... Mark Harveywww.1814mag.com
