Shangri-La. That’s the official nickname for Ojai, a small town nestled in a rich valley surrounded by mountains, located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. In fact, the name Ojai (pronounced oh-hy) is said to have originated from an indigenous term for the word nest. However, the name actually originates from the Native American Chumash word for moon.

So, this nest in the valley of the moon is now my home, as of January 2. After living in the chaparral hills of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles for the past 30 years, I’ve decided to take the plunge and move to my own piece of heaven in the Ojai Valley. That’s me holding Teddy, poised over the Ojai Valley at sunset. This is going to be my new view every morning.