Ian Anderson learned to surf San Diego waves while living on a nearby military base. The child of a U.S. serviceman, he spent his youth on such bases, traveling the globe from Japan to the UK, through the American South up to Washington DC. But nothing resonated so deeply for him as the Southern California lifestyle.

After earning a writing degree from Pomona College, Ian continued to explore the world, yet those West Coast beaches keep luring him home-never judging him for dalliances in Hawaiian, Costa Rican, or European waters. He contributes to national publications (usually writing about beer, music, and travel) has ghost-written a number of books, and even delved into the ecological sciences to co-author An Eco-Friendly Online Shopping Guide.