Living in Southern California as an introvert, you learn to appreciate the little things.
@jennieberrie When an #earthquake happens to an #introvert in #SoCal ♬ Jazz Bossa Nova - TOKYO Lonesome Blue
Like ample personal space (thanks, sprawling suburbs!), the freedom to wear flip-flops year-round (because toes deserve to be free!), and of course, the thrill... of a mild earthquake.
Okay, maybe "thrill" is a strong word. But for us seasoned SoCal residents, a little tremor is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Sure, the first time you experience the earth juddering beneath your feet, it can be a bit nerve-wracking. But after your third or fourth earthquake before breakfast, you develop a certain nonchalance.
Now, I recently saw a news report about a minor earthquake hitting New York City. Apparently, it caused a bit of a stir. People were running out into the streets, some even (gasp!) making eye contact with their neighbors!
Bless their hearts. Here in Southern California, we handle earthquakes with all the enthusiasm of a lukewarm cup of decaf. We might raise an eyebrow, mutter a casual "earthquake again?", and maybe (just maybe) glance up from our phones to see if anything fell off the shelves.
Don't get me wrong, safety first. We know the drill – drop, cover, and hold on. But the drama? The existential panic? We leave that to the folks who haven't built their entire lives around the San Andreas fault.
So, to our friends on the East Coast, a word of advice: relax! Most earthquakes in California are a minor inconvenience, like that time you forgot your reusable grocery bags (tragic, I know). Just grab your phone (because let's face it, we'll all be checking social media anyway), make sure nothing's on fire (because that's a real concern), and then, feel free to go back to your regularly scheduled introverted activities.
