California light in the late afternoon visibly hums and shimmers in a dreamy haze, bouncing off light poles, palm fronds and passing cars. All the colors get amped up. It's what you came here for - for the beauty and bliss and promise of it all.

But what happens when the Santa Ana winds turn leaves dry and brittle? When the the wildfire smoke and coyotes come down from the mountains? When you're trying to figure out what you have to to do to stay in paradise. /BENEATH THE HAZE