Alma Mater...

Has it ever happened that you meet someone who knows more about where you live than you do? It has to me and it was awfully embarrassing, mostly because they knew even more about the area in which they live in. I often wonder about our thirst & hunger to travel around the world to see & experience exotic, romantic, historic or simply naturally beautiful places.
My oversimplified reasoning is as follows: We value based on what we know. We know that Gold is valuable b/c it's scarce. We value time b/c 1- we get paid for it & 2- it's also a limited resource. However, what makes us value these things most is the fact that we KNOW where they stand in the big scheme of things. Therefore, assuming the premise above is correct, can we then really appreciate the magnificence, or lack thereof, of other places if our own understanding of the place we should know best is very limited? Redundantly, could we really value gold if it weren’t scarce?
As some of you may know I live in LA, but not the glamorous part. I don't live within walking distance to Disneyland (thank god!) or any famous restaurant like Nobu or Sushi Roku. In fact, in my life it takes at least 20min to get anywhere decently fun and that's if you don't hit traffic on the 405. In response to this driving headache I started to explore my neighborhood and found a few cozy restaurants that are now sponsored by the Shojo salary. I also found a wonderful artery-clogging old-fashioned Foster Freeze that still serves the traditional soft serves dipped in that unremarkable chocolate that is just crunchy but flavorless. And, although I can't compare our local soft serve to Italian gelato in some cozy street in Venice, I'm proud it's in our neighborhood and that I now know where it is. So, I'd say to you fellow reader - GO... go beyond your front door but not past your city line and explore your area; for once you understand the beauty, or lack thereof, in your neighborhood will you truly be able to appreciate new destinations.