"The only way to make sense of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance." - Alan W. Watts

So... yeah, change is a coming.

I am moving to the OC.

Egads!

I haven't "officially" lived there in 20 years! Two decades! Four lustra! You get the idea.

I recently took a personality assessment that says that I don't like change. I think there is a little bit of truth in there, but I feel like the nostalgia that brings about the reluctance.

I'll be honest, San Diego is the only place I've never complained about. I was even grateful to be unemployed there because I got rock star parking every time I went to the beach during work hours. And the museums were free to residents, so I took advantage of that too.

When I first moved to California, I mocked the weather ("What? No snow on Christmas?!" Give me a break, I was 10!); then when I moved to Boston for grad school, it wasn't the weather I complained about (I already had an idea of what I was getting into), I missed my friends and Mexican food. Not Tex-Mex, but California burritos stuffed with french fries (not sprouts!) and street tacos (cabeza, lengua? yes please!). When I got to Santa Barbara, I was totally surprised because I thought it would be like San Diego, OC, and LA. It's not. It's a quaint city of 90,000 and since Isla Vista isn't counted as a part of the census, it's diversity is pretty much non-existent.

The only place I have never been nostalgic for is the OC. The reasons for missing San Diego are too numerous to list. Boston? Boy, am I missing that excellent clam chowder and lobsta rolls! And the seasons? Fall is unbeatable. Unlike CA, if you drive for an hour, you can be in another state. After just one hour! I miss my friends there too of course. :)

Santa Barbara? It's like we're on an island of sorts. It takes about an hour just to reach a Target! Ok, not anymore, they have one in Oxnard now, so only 40 minutes, but it's still true to reach a decent Asian market that doesn't pillage your wallet!

Ok, so what am I going to be nostalgic for when I leave SB?

The same thing that most people mentioned when I told them... American Ale burgers. Some of the first words I heard were, "Oh no! That means I won't get anymore burgers!" Thanks guys...

The beach. Yeah, I know, So Cal has beaches a plenty. But here, even on the 4th of July and Labor Day, you can easily find a space on the beach. Parking may be a problem for some, but not for this gal who lives 1.5 miles away and usually just walks it.

The views. It's just darn pretty here.

Honestly, one of the biggest things I will miss here are all the great people I worked with. It took some time to get to know them, but it's always hard to leave good people. Especially when you have developed a really great working relationship and finally got things working somewhat smoothly.

The combination of it all is making nostalgic juices flow through my veins.

People ask if I'm excited about moving. I am. I have plans. Like piano classes, and salsa lessons,maybe even an art class or two. I even have a few friends in the area. (Family too!)

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” ― Haruki Murakami

The title quote is from Haruki Murakami's "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" which has inspired me to get back on the exercise bandwagon. Funny enough, this same author inspired me to start my creative writing blog as well.

Brand new running shoes!

I was pretty good earlier this year, running 3-5 times a week. Then I went to Asia and have had a hard time getting back into the groove since I got back. It's been several months!

In that time, some of the weight I lost has come back, and now I'm just out of excuses. Can't complain of jet lag anymore; the days are longer (the amount of sunlight anyway, woo hoo!), and it's warmer out. Heck I live in CA, it's hard to complain about weather here.

Though... I do, sometimes...

It's what happens when you live in a place where it's pretty awesome about 94% of the year. I know, wah wah...

East Beach, Santa Barbara, CA

It's not even like I'm only talking about the weather... I live about a mile and a half away from the beach and I have some spectacular panoramic views of mountains and ocean.

Not surprisingly, the boardwalk is a regular running path and I take advantage as often as I can get my lazy butt up and out of the house.

I have come to really understand what William James meant when he said, "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second."

Last year, I decided I wanted to start jogging again. I used to jog in San Diego a decent amount. It was moderately enjoyable, but it was when I felt strong, felt healthy and was able to keep my weight manageable.

Top of Stadium steps

Though it had been a while, I remember deciding, "I'm going to run 2 miles without stopping, I don't care how long it takes!" I was on the SBCC track, and remember just pushing myself until I got to my goal. Eight laps without stopping!

I had no more excuses. I found that I could will myself to do what I wanted to do even when my body wanted to wimp out and walk. My time was slow... like a fast walker could beat me slow, but I kept going.

SBCC Stadiums

I've never really been athletic, so my competition has always been me, myself, and I. I've actually never told anyone this, but when I was in grade school, I used to get anxiety in gym class, and felt so sick to my stomach that I had to go to the nurse. I loathed the idea of having to run and compete against other classmates. I was afraid of being the slowest or that I had horrible form and while I liked cheering for people from the sidelines, I found myself ill "just in time" to avoid the starting line.

Now, a few(ish) decades later, I'd like to say I couldn't care less. While for the most part, it's true, now a days, I tell myself, I just want to do whatever it is that brings me happiness and if I suck, then hopefully some decent entertainment. (Just ask my softball team!)

I recently started doing stadiums again at Santa Barbara City College. Each lane has 84 stairs that get increasingly taller as you go higher. I only did one set, 5 lanes up and 5 down. When I've tackled this in the past, I had been running 3+ miles and I barely was able to break two before I started this time.

My legs... my poor legs. Did I stretch? Yes. Did I cool down. You betcha, but holy cow, did I ache. For 2 days... pathetic! But, a few days later I did it again. And a few days after that? Well, I did 2 sets.

Sometimes, I wish I were one of those adrenaline junkies, and get a massive high from exercising.

But I will settle for some willpower and accept that while "pain in inevitable. Suffering is optional" and hopefully by the end of summer, I'll be in better shape than I was last year.

"Newlywed or Nearly Dead..."

"Newlywed  or  nearly dead", that's the unofficial motto of where I currently live. As they always say, "Home is where the heart is" and in any case, I know I'm not in Kansas anymore! (Or Boston, San Diego, Garden Grove, or even Indianapolis for that matter!) Ok, ok, I'm done with the puns.

I had never been to Santa Barbara prior to the interview for my current job. I wanted to come to visit while I was living in San Diego, but it just never happened. I remember thinking, "Even if I don't get this job, at least I'll have gotten a glimpse of the place so many people have raved about."

Don't get me wrong, it's a great place. Beautiful, secluded, not too populated and was featured in the NY times in their travel section just last month! With the beach to the south (so weird!) and the surrounding Los Padres National Forest , it is a unique place.

It's definitely the smallest town I've ever lived in as an adult. (As a youth, I had a brief stint in Tequesta, FL which is by far the smallest town that I've been in... ever...) When people ask me what I think of it, it's almost a reflex that I exclaim, "They don't have a Target!!"

To drive the point home, I am where the green arrow is and the Target website so effectively reveals that the closest one to me is only about 40 miles away. (Only...) To the city's defense, there is a Kmart here (which to date I have not visited because I have strategically hit up a Target on my way back home from a weekend away), but man do I miss having one around!

The other place that most people know about is UCSB. Known as a party school, it also boasts some Nobel Laureates and one Field Medalist. One of my good friends visited me for Halloween weekend. We decided to venture into Isla Vista (or IV) where, according to Playboy, UCSB is a Top Party School. We strolled through the streets and one thing we both agreed upon was that they had a very "fit" student body. I had to ask my friend, "Is there a BMI maximum on their application form?!"

Yes, that does say "I <3 Boobz"

We saw and heard a lot of entertaining things. In addition to the window artwork here, we also saw a drawing on a filthy car. Instead of the familiar "wash me" sign, it was a picture of a particular body part. Enough said. Sorry, no pictures were taken.

The "inner hoes" came out in droves, although, some of them might have been themselves... something I'll never personally know. The quote of the night could have come from any of them, "Is my a$$ hanging out?" and we weren't sure if it was something they WANTED or didn't.

We also came across some guys that held up "DTF?" signs on cardboard. Let me be honest, I had no idea what that meant, although we were pretty close and definitely had the right context in mind. One thing was for sure, they were going to have some fun parties down there that night, even with the police in full force. (We saw a Cookie Monster in handcuffs on the sidewalk, so sad.) I was warned by several co-workers to avoid the area if I wanted to steer clear of debauchery, but as a good host, how could I refuse my first visitor?!

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm guessing that's because of the SBPD.

Anyway, my temporary housing is coming to a close in about a month so I have to find a new place to live. Right now, I'm across the street from work, about 1.5 miles away from the local airport, and about 10-15 minutes away from downtown SB. Pretty darn convenient, but as a recent graduate with student loans, my current abode is just a wee (as in not at all, but actually a HUGE) bit too pricey for a gal like me. Wish me luck!