I’m a proud Californian. And let’s be honest—we make the rest of the country a little jealous, because deep down, they all kind of want to be us. And honestly? They should. California isn’t just a state—it’s a global powerhouse that fuels the entire nation.

California is now the 4th largest economy in the world, ahead of Japan. And yes—real estate is a huge part of that. What we build, buy, and sell here fuels trillions in GDP.

But we’re more than just money—we’re magic.

• We’ve got the highest and lowest points in the U.S.: Mt. Whitney and Death Valley.
• We’re home to over 30 theme parks, because Californians know how to have fun.
• We invented blue jeans and fortune cookies—you’re welcome.
• We hold the record for the largest amphitheater (the Hollywood Bowl).
• We’ve got both the largest tree on earth and the oldest tree on earth.
• And we also have the most national parks in the U.S. (nine!).

California quite literally feeds the country. We grow a third of America’s vegetables, two-thirds of its fruits and nuts, and a whopping 95% of its avocados—and 10% of the world’s. California also produces roughly 90% of all the wine made in the United States, and if we were our own country, we’d rank in the top five in the world for wine production. Cheers to that!

We are the most populous state in the nation with nearly 40 million people, and more diversity than anywhere else—no single ethnic group makes up a majority here. That diversity is our superpower. It’s what fuels our creativity, innovation, and culture.

And to keep life interesting, a wide array of antiquated state laws technically still exist in some parts of California—though thankfully no longer enforced. For example: in Blythe it’s illegal to wear cowboy boots unless you own two cows, and in Palm Springs, you can’t walk your camel down Palm Canyon Drive between 4 and 6pm. (I promise, I did not make this up.)

California is something bigger than the sum of its parts. We feed the nation, we fuel the world, and we create the culture everyone else copies.

So yes, California really is the coolest state. The rest are just catching up.