/* moving closer to family and rebooting in the middle of where all the tech noise is happening. Hello SF! */

It’s never easy to say goodbye to a place that feels like home. What makes LA special isn't just the beaches or the mountains — it’s the spirit of the people. You don’t have to fit a mold here. You don’t have to look or act a certain way. You can just be yourself, and that’s enough. I’ll miss that openness more than I can say. I’ll miss how LA dances to its own beat, completely disconnected from the noise of the rest of the country — stubborn in a way, and it's a vibe I've embraced in my life. Over time, LA became a city I truly knew. I stopped using Google Maps in many parts of the city, navigating the streets the way I do in Chennai — a small thing, but it makes a city feel like yours in a way nothing else can.

Cricket has been at the heart of my LA life. For 13 years, I played with a group that became family. We had our share of seasons to forget — including one where we didn’t win a single game — but the memories we built along the way were worth far more than any scoreboard. This year, making it to the playoffs felt like a full-circle moment. I’ll miss the weekend battles on the field, sure, but even more, I'll miss the conversations after the games — the easy laughter, the shared frustration, the friendships that were built one match at a time. Those little moments made LA feel smaller, closer, and more like home.

I’ll miss the easy access to hikes and beaches. On weekends, we enjoy hiking the Malibu Canyon, Las Virgenes, or Temescal — quick escapes that always helped clear my head. Malibu Beach and the Bluffs Park were go-to spots, and Point Dume or Leo Carrillo were perfect when we just wanted to be near the water, no plan needed. LA also fed my love for science — visits to Griffith Observatory never got old, and the California Science Center was always a favorite. I still remember watching the Endeavour shuttle being carried through the streets. That was special.

And food! As a vegan, I couldn’t have found a better city to live in. From food trucks hidden away in neighborhoods to beautiful plant-based dining spots across the city, LA’s vegan scene is simply unmatched. I never had to plan ahead — good food was just always there.

Some of my cherished memories are wrapped around short drives up to Santa Barbara, usually for birthdays — long walks through Shoreline Park, incredible dinners at Oliver’s (they closed last year), and the kind of slow, easy days that feel almost too good to be real.

And then there’s Joshua Tree — the place that’s been with me through every phase of life. Watching a moonrise and drinking a pint with my parents over Keys View. Stargazing with my then-girlfriend, now wife. Hiking through the Cholla Cactus Garden with our daughter on my back. Different times, different versions of me, but always under that same wide open sky. Joshua Tree will always be a part of my story.

LA also gave me a few close friends — the kind where time just flows and conversations don’t need a reason. I didn’t have a huge circle here (after all the losers moved to Texas), but the few I have, I will miss deeply.

Now it’s time for the next chapter — new city, new memories, new adventures. I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Also, now I need to buy pants. For someone who wears shorts all year, this will be the toughest change of all!

HMU if you're around the Bay Area - @mani on Farcaster.

cat ~/favorites.md

#hike: Inspiration point (Will Rogers), Malibu Canyon

#food: Sage @ Culver (closed in 2023), Vegan Joint @ Woodland Hills, Woodlands @ Chatsworth

#beach: Leo Carrillo, Point Dume, Will Rogers

#coffee: Tortoni @ Sherman Oaks, Alfred @ Westwood

#brew: Pedals and Pints @ Thousand Oaks, Blue Dog @ Sherman Oaks