I never realized how much I would miss this area until I was gone for some time. At the time we were trying to get started in our profession and just trying to survive. We moved up to Washington in 1987 after living in the Bay Area for a couple years. We had grown up in Washington and were moving back closer to family. We did go to Monterey about 3 or 4 times a year but never really realized how much we would miss it until it was not easily accessible.
It's so easy to get caught up in the rush of California that you don't notice the relaxing side of the state until later. The best place to go see a baseball game anywhere is outside at Oakland stadium in right field where you also get a suntan. An outside concert anywhere in the bay area is always a great day because you can almost always expect a nice warm day. A picnic at V. Sattui Winery is a great way to spend a early Saturday in Napa Valley before the crowd comes. I find that the food and restaurants are also taken for granted until you move. Some of the best restaurants I have eaten at are still down here and I visit them every chance I get.
I never did drive to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe or Yosemite Park while we lived down here either. That is my one regret as we did not take advantage of the area while we were here as these are great places to visit with a variety of activities. I remember how they all seemed so far away from the the bay area. But I now travel by plane to go to these places from Seattle. On the positive side I always have my options to choose from when I'm trying to get away from Seattle in the winter when it is raining or snowing. Califronia, I can't afford to live down here but I have to visit here at least once a year.