Goodbye Mission Beach

This past Monday I officially moved out of Mission Beach and back to Las Vegas for good.  The week after graduation was filled with Mission Beach "nothingness" (bike riding, laying out, barbequing, etc.), spending last minute quality time with friends, and packing.  I was reflecting on everything, and thought that I will miss so many things about living at the beach, some obvious, and some that you could only understand if you've been / lived there as well.  

Here is my (tentative) list of what I will miss:

1. Being steps from the beautiful Pacific Ocean, and Mission Bay.

2. Being able to walk or bike ride to many ideal destinations: friends' houses, Pacific Beach, restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, etc.  This was especially useful and unique for nightlife destinations.   

3. Being a part of a friendly community of familiar faces from USD and other Mission Beach residents.  It was almost inevitable to not run into someone I know on a daily basis on the boardwalk and other areas. 

4. The diverse cast of characters who I encountered daily on the boardwalk: families vacationing, skateboarders, surfers, Slomo- iconic doctor turned full time boardwalk roller-blader, buff joggers, "Zonies" partying, young couples watching the waves, etc. 

5. Hearing & seeing the ocean waves through my bedroom window and smelling the salt water.

6. Wondering around the beach on weekends carrying nothing, not even a cell phone; thus, no responsibilities and no concept of time. 

7. All of the small cafes/restaurants/bars right around the corner, especially Olive Cafe, Baked, and Guava Beach.  

8. The carefree attitude and pure happiness that people demonstrate all the time.   

9.  The Thursday night routine at Sandbar / Coaster.  You knew where everyone was going to be out at every Thursday, but still asked "You going out tonight?" to make conversation during the day, in anticipation.   

10.  My beach cruiser. 

top things I'm going to miss about my USD experience

1. the beach

2. Founders Chapel Choir

3. Ali Tapper

mission beach life

The last few weekends in San Diego have provided absolutely gorgeous weather.  This inevitably means lots of people are out at Mission Beach surfing, biking, walking, laying out, playing beach volleyball, barbequing, partying, etc.  I am so fortunate to say that this scene has been my "backyard" this year, and I wouldn't have changed it for anything.  In exactly one month I will move out of my place here, and back to Las Vegas to jump into the real world.  I am excited for this new chapter, but I am really really going to miss the Mission Beach life.  Today I lived in my bathing suit, with no makeup, barbequed and beach cruised with Ash & Vic, beach cruised again with Ali, ran into other friends on the boardwalk, met a group of vacationers and neighbors on our street and had a drink with them, walked around barefoot, etc. with no concept of time.  Everything is so chill, carefree, and happy here.  I can't tell you the amount of times I have thought to myself  "This is the life ."    

homemade salsa

A highlight of this weekend was making homemade salsa with my roommate, Ali.  We made Paula Deen's Black Been Salsa recipe, which includes black beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, avocado, cilantro, lime, and red wine vinegar.  It came out soooo good!  Enjoy the pleasing visual from a snapshot inside the bowl.  ;)

most frequently played

My most frequently played record in the last week or so has been Adele's sophomore album, 21.  Her soulful, powerhouse voice combines pop-y and and ballad melodies to create beautiful songs about love and loss that just make me emotional!  "Rollin' in the Deep" has been blowin' up the radio and music video outlets, but my standouts are "Turning Tables" and "Don't You Remember."  But honestly it is all really amazing.  Thanks Adele :)    

update

It's been so long since I've written!  I guess I'll just throw out some highlights since my last post.  

The fall semester finished up successfully and my Winter break at home in Las Vegas was great.  I was blessed to have lots of time to spend with family and friends, and maybe go out a little.  :)  Something really cool was that my international buddy from last semester (Arancha, from Madrid) was in Vegas with her family & boyfriend for New Year's.  I met up with them on the 1st and hung out with them the whole day.  It was so nice and we spoke Spanish the whole time.  They really want me to come visit Madrid and invited me to stay with them!  (I REALLY want to go back to visit the city, my host family, other friends there, and just experience it again.  Really really bad.  But there are no definite plans yet / income to do such a thing, but a girl can dream).  My main New Year's resolutions have been to let go and stop stressing about things I can't control,  and to journal more.  I am proud to say that I have been doing both pretty frequently.  Highlights of the semester so far include my parents coming to settle me back in, getting to know my new international buddy (David, from Barcelona), going out as much as I can with good friends, my brother coming to visit, and having the chance to reflect with supportive University Ministry and career services staff about where I'm at and where I'm going.  Oh, and also, I'm doing some work for a social media marketing agency called Casual Fridays, which I have been enjoying.  I am going to have the opportunity to write copy for/design Facebook ads, and plan/place them.  On the subject of graduating, I placed my cap and gown order yesterday.  :/  exciting, but I'm trying to be in denial at the same time.  Luckily I am not freaking out as much as I thought I would be.  I feel like I really have put the work in and am doing my part and hopefully something will work out by the grace of God.  I am, however, really trying to enjoy this last semester, focus on what is really important, and am thinking about what I am going to miss.  I think I will do a series of photos/blurbs of such things soon.