I have a confession:
I live in a place where palm trees grow, and while some would equate this with living in heaven, I have to admit that I don't really like it.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not miserable in California - we are enjoying our time here, meeting many good friends, and enjoying wonderful educational and career opportunities. However, there's a lot here that drives me bonkers: cost of living, traffic, cost of living, crowds, cost of living ... and did I mention cost of living? I mean, yeah, the weather's great, but apparently weather costs a lot!
Anyway, I'm not here to gripe about California ... no, this is a positive blog post about the thing I like best about living here, the thing that I will totally miss when we leave California for cheaper pastures:
I'm a total fan of the Milk Pail!
The Milk Pail Market is an open-air market that sells mostly produce, but also cheeses, breads, and other bulk or specialty items. Basically it's a whole lot of fresh food packed into a small area that attracts a lot of people. This means that on any given day - but especially on Saturdays - it is likely to be very crowded! Carrying a basket as you weave your way through the bins of produce is often a tenuous process, and trying to push one of the mini shopping carts is nigh unto impossible. You are pretty much guaranteed to be running into toes and elbows, and you have to have your "excuse me's" and "I'm sorry's" ready and waiting. But, the nice thing is that even though you're guaranteed to be jabbed by others just as much as you jab, you and everyone else there know that shopping at the Milk Pail is worth the experience! You get such a great variety of quality produce (and other items) for such great prices, you're just happy to be there along with everyone else (including the employees, who, somehow despite all the crowds and craziness, are surprisingly efficient and friendly)!
For me, there is a certain thrill of pushing my way through it all and filling my basket or cart (depending on the day) to the brim with fresh produce, cheeses, etc., taking my goods up to the checkout - feeling certain that I have enough food to fill an army and that it is sure to cost me way more than I was planning on spending (as it would at any typical grocery store) - and then having it all total out to no more than $25! Knowing all the while that it is all healthy food that I can feel good about eating! It's a joyful thing!
It may sound funny, but I have to confess that shopping at the Milk Pail makes me happy and that I'm a fan!
