With one last dip in the ocean, we are on the road to Chicago! {well, today we are off to Lake Tahoe.} Before I look forward, I’ll reflect back on the past 8 years when I’ve been able to call San Diego home.
Eight years ago I was living in St. Paul, MN and was looking for a random change in life. A warm change. And I asked my boss at Wells Fargo Financial for a transfer. After his initial anger subsided, he told me that California is terrible, the people are fake, and expected I’d be back in a year. Good riddance?
I came to CA in Jack the Jeep, with a uhaul full of my stuff, and an open heart. We’re leaving CA in Long Tall Sally {the Sequoia}, with 3 bikes, no kids, and an open mind. I’ve grown and changed, fell in love and got married, quit that first job and held my next until now.
I became a triathlete, and Ironman {twice!}, a state champion, a Cat 2 cyclist, a swim coach, a bike fit kingpin, and an ocean swimming lover {west coast is the best coast!}.
Kyle proposed at Cabrillo National Momument and we said our vows on Sunset Cliffs. I fell in love with the La Jolla Cove on my first swim. Okay, maybe second. The “weeds” {kelp} caused a small panic at first encounter. I found my local bike shop and a year later got hired! Fish tacos, sushi, froyo and new adventure eating began to take over for my mac & cheese, peanut butter & jelly MN palate.
We’ve had some great vacations in this great {big!} state and beyond. Yosemite was a major highlight and took my breath away with each visit. Sequoia, Big Sur, Tahoe!, San Fran, Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Mammoth, & Joshua Tree are just some of the awesome places this state has to offer and were some of my favorite places to visit. {ahem, LA is not mentioned; but the hockey is good.}
Locally, I’ll miss the cove. And all my favorite bike routes {GWL, Elfin Forest, Palomar, the Velodrome, the coast & tidepool repeats}. I’ll miss the hippy-ness of OB and the food: Hodads, Pizza Port, Wonderland, Southbeach, Lighthouse Ice Cream waffle sandwiches, & Olive Tree market. It’s with no surprise that I’ll miss San Diego and all its California glory.
And although California is not the typical “Minnesota nice,” the friendships I’ve built will stay with me forever. The people who have made these eight years unforgettable will be greatly missed. {and hopefully visited often!}
I haven’t been as emotional as I thought I’d be. We’ve been in limbo, knowing about this move for a while and just waiting for it to happen. I feel I had a proper amount of so long, farewell moments and wasn’t rushed into it.
But today, I filled the ocean with some tears, flooded with emotions and memories of the past eight years. All while swimming and smiling. In my favorite place.
Thank you to all of you for making us feel loved as we head out on our journey to Chicago! It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.
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