Bay Area Bests #1

Diversity. The whole wide world right outside my door.

Drinking chai at the new Peet's in Emeryville, a nearby table occupied by happy Chinese speakers, eventually replaced by happy Italian speakers. Later that same day, eating lunch at Veggie Food, a vegetarian Chinese restaurant in north Berkeley, people on one side speaking Spanish, and on the other side a trio of robed Buddhist monks not speaking at all.

So many different skin tones and languages and modes of dress and lifestyle variatioins -- almost everyone co-existing in peace and mutual respect. It's so enlivening to be a part of this rich and diverse and thoroughly progressive mix.