Living in Santa Monica, you realize that this city is defined by "how you spend your time outdoors" and that greatly affects your quality of life.

My concept of 'leisure' has completely changed since moving here.

In Korea, I would think about where to go on my days off, but here, just stepping outside my house means relaxation begins.

Santa Monica has a relatively high ratio of parks and green spaces compared to its urban area. It's not just that there are many parks; nature is integrated into daily life.

The Pacific coastline itself is a vast natural space, with the city layered on top of it. As a result, outdoor activities become a part of everyday life throughout the year.

Palisades Park is a prime example of this. It's a long park that stretches along the cliffs on Ocean Avenue, and honestly, it's a bit surprising when you first visit.

You might think, "Is this really a park?" The walking paths that overlook the ocean are continuous, and many people sit on benches, gazing at the sea without a care in the world. In the morning, you see runners; during the day, people doing yoga; and in the evening, couples out to watch the sunset. I initially visited as a tourist, but now I use it as my neighborhood walking route.

However, this peaceful scenery doesn't always remain unchanged. One unavoidable aspect of living in California is wildfires.

Especially when fires start in the northern Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, or mountainous areas, smoke drifts down with the wind.

The feeling you get during those times is quite strange. Normally, you live leisurely while looking at the ocean, but suddenly the air quality worsens, and you have to close your windows.

You hear sirens in the distance, and the news talks about evacuations... it shows a completely different side of the same city.

When you hear about areas affected by wildfires, you realize that damage can occur at the neighborhood level, and the life you've built over years can vanish overnight. You come to understand that this is not someone else's story, but something that "can happen at any time."

Heading down to the beach, you find Santa Monica State Beach, which is literally an "outdoor playground."

There are surfers, beach volleyball players, and people just walking around, all mixed together.

Particularly, the bike path that runs along the beach is quite long, and if you ride all the way to Venice Beach, you immediately understand why people love this city.

I enjoy my weekends biking and clearing my mind.

Venturing a bit further in, the neighborhood vibe changes completely. Places like Virginia Avenue Park are entirely for residents.

Children play, parents sit on benches chatting, and programs run at the community center...

It feels like an expanded version of a playground in a Korean apartment complex, but the scale and facilities are much larger. The presence of such spaces in every neighborhood feels significant.

One place that left a strong impression on me is Reed Park. There are always elderly people playing chess there.

At first, I just watched, but eventually, that scene felt like a part of the city itself. It's not a hurried atmosphere; it feels like a different way of spending time in this city.

And we can't forget Clover Park, which is popular with families. It has a large grassy area perfect for picnics, and it used to be fun to watch planes up close due to the nearby airport. Although the atmosphere has changed a bit with redevelopment plans, many families still spread out blankets and spend the day there on weekends.

When you look at each of these places individually, they seem special, but the important thing is that all of them are within "everyday distance." You don't have to drive far; these spaces are within walking distance. This makes it easy to exercise naturally and go outside without needing to plan.

As you live here, you come to realize that Santa Monica is indeed an expensive city.

However, it's clear that the money isn't just spent on housing; it also goes into maintaining this living environment.

Ultimately, the advantage of this city lies in how it changes the way you spend your time. Instead of resting indoors, you recover your energy outside. Once you get used to this, many people feel stifled when they go to other cities.

I initially focused only on the costs, but now I gradually understand why people continue to stay here.