Note: This post is part of an ongoing blog series called #costamesa365  – you can read more about its origins here.

My problem is that I live on the very edge of town.

This pic is from Fairview Park right near my house. From that park, you can literally look off the edge of a cliff, across the Santa Ana River, to Huntington Beach below. HB’s walkably close.

Over here in Westside Costa Mesa, it’s all too easy to just “pop across the river” into nearby Huntington Beach for things like gas, Trader Joe’s, Target – oh and a quick coffee pick-me-up while I’m at it.

It’s not personal, it’s an edge thing.

I’m sure my Costa Mesa neighbors to the north – in areas like Mesa del Mar and South Coast Metro – do a fair amount of shopping in Santa Ana. Eastsiders are cozy with Newport Beach.

For Westsiders, the Brookhurst Street corridor is almost like our unofficial – un-Costa Mesa – Main Street. It’s got everything.

If I mentally track Brookhurst from the 405 Freeway to the beach, it not only boasts the aforementioned gas, TJ’s and Target, but:

My kids’ orthodontist

Burger joint (where I bribe my kids to go to said orthodontist)

Spa (occasional massages)

Math tutoring

Big grocery store

Preferred chain burrito joint

Preferred chain salad joint

Falafel joint

Froyo joint (where I also bribe my kids to go to ortho)

Bank branch

Other bank branch

Drive-thru coffee

Preferred chain pizza joint

My dentist

My opthomologist

My hair stylist…

…the list goes on.

When I put it all down in a list like that… gulp!

This Maven’s left feeling pretty sheepish.

I had no previous awareness I was sending so much of my business to the businesses of Brookhurst. I guess this is why accountability projects like #costamesa365 exist. Awareness-punch-to-the-face? Check!

Yesterday I talked about the compound effect of mini-actions and this Brookhurst phenomenon makes the point perfectly.

We all know errands beget errands.

If I need a Target, I probably need gas.

If I treat myself to a massage, I will deposit a check or grab a salad on the way home.

If I take-out a pizza, I might duck into a grocery for breakfast rations.

The worst part is that most of these same places are right here in Costa Mesa. (Except my takeout salad place… oh how I need a new takeout salad place! Post your faves in our Facebook Group please!)

If I’m being honest, I just got lazy about looking locally and poof! Compound effect.

So as of yesterday, I am saying bye-bye Brookhurst* and hello CM. Let’s compound my little purchases to work for my city instead of my neighboring cities.

It may be the very thinnest edge of the wedge… but it’s a start. ♥

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*A few caveats: the Brookhurst-Street dentist on my list is my parents’ dental practice, so that’s staying. The orthodonist is a family friend, so also staying. Kids’ math tutoring is staying, for now, because finding good tutors is hard and the kids are attached. Everything else on that list is going full Costa Mesa, baby! (And seriously, I need a new takeout salad place, like yesterday.)