We live on the North side of a mountain range here in So Cal. Our range splits the low desert to the south (palm springs, coachella, salton sea) from the high desert to the north (victorville, joshua tree, barstow). We live within about hour from 3 different 10,000 foot peaks. About an hour from 4 different ski resorts. About 2.5 hours from the beach. 1.5 hours to downtown LA and all the culture. 1.5 hours to San Diego and amazing mexican food. Could make it to Mexico in 2.5 hours. Drive 4 hours and you start getting into Kings Canyon, and all sorts of big rivers So cal has to offer. 3 hours from the Colorado river and Arizona. There's ghost towns out here, sand dunes. We live in a forest. Everything except humidity.