Growing up in northern California has had a big influence on my love and respect for the outdoors. When I lived in Oakland we would think nothing of driving to Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz one day and then driving to the foothills of the Sierras the next day.
I don't know many people if any who have had some straight line toward success. I mean they start here they work hard they've got what it takes and they just go straight to the top over some number of years. Most people get a little failure.