Once again, I’ve returned to the US. This year I decided on a soft landing and spent a few weeks in Hawaii visiting old friends. Then bracing myself, I landed in Los Angeles, my home for many years. 

Returning to the U.S. is always an eye-opener — it gives me a chance to reflect on where I’ve been and how I’ve changed since I left almost four years ago. I see how this country is growing away from me (or more accurately how I’m growing away from it). It’s like a long term marriage where you wake up and realize that you no longer share the same goals and desires. Then the question pops into your head. Do we get divorced? Or do we stay together for the kids. Let’s face it, Heather still calls LA her home, while her sister says the same about Thailand. But to be honest, I will always have a connection here. And I will always return. 

There is plenty to love about America. So for fun, I thought I’d list a few of my top choices…

Let’s face it. Heather lives here. My first born. She’s grown into a very capable, loving young woman. We love to hang with each other. Hike, bike, eat, it doesn’t matter. Being away from her is just plain hard, so I enjoy every moment we spend with each other. 

Things just work here. Roads are wide. Credit cards are accepted everywhere (I don’t have to keep running to an ATM to get cash). People are into efficiency. They do their job (even though they may not love it).

Grocery stores are FULL of amazing fruits and vegetables. Shelves bulge with anything and everything you can imagine. I am envious. You don’t see this anywhere in the world. 

There are soooo many choices of restaurants. You name it, we have it. Most countries are invested in what I’ll call mono food types. I’ve found this entertaining, but after three meals a day of any food, my eye (and stomach) starts to look for something new. Something familiar. Or more honestly, something different.

There is good wine here. Other countries have plenty also, but Thailand certainly does not. I love coming back to my wine cellar (strange I still have one). I like to pull out a case or two when I arrive and bring it along to share with friends. It’s a win-win for all. 

My friends are here. This is huge. So many people who know and love me. Who want to hear my stories. And of course, I want to hear theirs. I schedule my time wisely, filling my calendar with lunches and dinners. Life at its best. 

Amazon is at its peak here. I sign up for Prime and start upgrading my travel gear. This year — a new travel pillow. New shoes. A new daypack and a new bluetooth speaker. Things that are difficult to find elsewhere in the world. I actually love this part. I’m a bit of a gear-head and always on the look out for a travel upgrade. And America, being the consumer capital of the world, is the place to find damn near everything you’d ever wish for. 

My doctors are here. When I come, I see them all. I get checkups. I get tested. I even have surgeries (this time at least). It’s always nice to speak english to the person checking you out. And I charge it all to Medicare. 

But what about the other side. The dark side? We all know it’s hiding in plain sight.

People are in a hurry. Don’t slow down or they’ll honk and let you know. There seems to be one speed. And that is Fast. Go. Go. Go. Go. Why? You tell me. 

There are advertisements everywhere. Billboards. Posters. Hardly a straight line of sight without someone pushing, selling something. It invades your pores. Enough! Quit selling me! I’ll buy something when I need it!

America is incredibly expensive. Wow. It shocks me everyday when I buy a $6 espresso or a $40 lunch. Damn. I can live for a day in Thailand for this. Or India. Or much of the world. 

People are stressed. They work long hours to try and get ahead — pay off things that they probably don’t need— that were too expensive in the first place. And soon whatever was bought eventually gets discarded for the next shiny object. Then back to work to pay that off.

The politics of America suck. It’s bad enough reading about it from another country. But when you’re here, it slaps you in the face and breaks my heart. Such a great country filled with amazing, talented, loving people. How did we learn to hate? To grab a gun and kill each other? Where will this all lead to? The election comes next year. Good luck everyone. 

There are so many homeless. The lost. The crazy. Entrenched in their sad lives. You rarely see this in other countries. Or if you do, it’s on a micro scale. People take care of each other and their families. They are each other’s security blanket. They don’t have systems in place to do this so they do it themselves. It’s refreshing to see. We’ve seem to have lost this art. 

Then there is the middle. Something that sucks pretty much everywhere. Traffic! Here people drive fast and are aggressive. Other countries (not talking Europe here) people drive slower and road rage is rare. Here there are “rules” that people are expected to follow. In other countries the only rule seems to be “don’t crash”. America has traffic jams. But let me tell you that the traffic jams in Bangkok are INSANE. 

So here I am, about to venture out again. Am I sad to leave? A bit. Am I looking forward to returning to my world travels. Absolutely.  

I guess there are pros and cons to every corner of the world, whether it be Los Angeles or Koh Samui. And I guess it doesn’t matter where we find ourselves, what matters is that we continue growing. Continue learning. Continue opening ourselves to new experiences in order to see through the madness and into our divine selves — who we really are.

Isn’t that the point of life anyway?