One Month Later

Last weekend as I pictured a destination a friend and I were headed to, I imagined long green grass and the opportunity to use my picnic blanket. There isn't too much grass in California. The location had no grass, just dirt. I'm left thinking some days -- when I have the time to think of grass and plants and study the landscape -- how much I wish I knew what the plants and trees were called. As I think about the transition of the last month, I realize it's all felt very natural and calm. Emotionally things have been steady and predictable, I've just moved from point A  to point B to C and so on throughout the day, week and month and the decisions have happened naturally. Knowing I needed a new setting and challenge seem to add to the general ease of adjustment. I love and miss New Hampshire,  and have found I truly am homesick for the summers, lakes, sounds, sunsets, traditions and people there, but I was prepared for and was seeking this change. The days here are very different, the weather and lack of bugs still baffles me. Cars are common. My work is 7 miles from my home and with my car recording the average speed of each trip, I've found I average 15 - 18 mph on my morning commute. The moments with new friends, out walking along the ocean or talking or laughing somewhere have felt familiar to other friendships, warm and welcoming and kind. When driving, there are so many beautiful ocean views seen from the highways or from secondary roads that now with the summer fog disappearing -- are incredible to see. It's on the new roads and routes though with a surprise view of Monterey Bay and the bright turquoise or dark blue ocean when I'm reminded of why this is right for now. Driving home at night too, among the darkness of a navy sea that seems to stretch west forever, to streetlights with a golden glow, to tall, unfamiliar trees with barks and needles I've never seen, remind me of the calm and comforting moments that exist in even unfamiliar places. There's a tree I spend a minute or so under most mornings while at a stoplight. It has bright yellow leaves and crunchy brown leaves lining the ground above its roots. I don't know what the seasons hold here, and am mostly assured that there are no seasons, but the tree reminds me of fall in New England and in that traffic, I feel for a moment that I'm in Massachusetts. Then I look around at the other trees and it looks like no where I've seen before.

Ending last Sunday was a week-long stretch of car shows on the peninsula. Some of the shows were fancier than others,  but the amount of vintage cars seen around town was quite fun and made up for the added congestion. The most unexpected sight was a bright red double-decker London bus. I noticed a show near my home and as the cars were being packed away on Sunday afternoon, I parked my own car far enough away (so it wouldn't be packed away in a truck... ;) ) to see these cars up close.

Along the coast in Pacific Grove.

Familiarity

Four or five nights ago, I was falling asleep and suddenly thought "I know what I'm doing here, I have friends and a group of people I know. It's easy to get around and I like living and working here." It's true. The fluency of life here improves every week, but in the most basic sense, I've reached a point of comfort, knowledge and enjoyment in everyday. There's still plenty more discovery ahead, but in finding a routine and friends and activities I enjoy, the familiar has returned.

Walking through Pacific Grove last week.

Most mornings in Pebble Beach look like this, but this one a few days ago looked particularly mystical. The air was also very smoky this day from the wildfire, thinking this might be a mix of fog and smoke.

   

Deer are everywhere here! Day and night they graze at this sports field, though they don't stick around when teams try to share the field.

Summertime is nearly permanently foggy close to the coast, but a few late afternoons have shown some sun! Taken on separate days around the same time. Hit or miss!

 I had such a nice time this weekend visiting my friend Zoe from Scotland in Palo Alto where she lives now. She's a wonderful and fun friend and we had a great time catching up and exploring. We headed to Santa Cruz for the day on Saturday and enjoyed walking the boardwalk and along the ocean and seeing UC Santa Cruz's gorgeous ocean views.

It was probably the sun, bright blue sky and comfortable temperature, but I visited and left Stanford thinking it was most beautiful campus I'd ever seen.

Saying Yes

California is feeling right. The first week of work went so quickly and the first weekend has gone even quicker. In meeting new people and adjusting to a new environment, there's been growth and happiness in embracing each change. Saying yes to everything (or as much as possible), embracing spontaneity, and living in the moment has felt like the best decision.

I turned 24 a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised at how fun the day was with new friends. Before the sun set, I headed out to the coast in Pebble Beach and enjoyed the peacefulness of the deserted beaches.

(Earlier in the evening I took a nature walk and marveled at the large pinecones!)

   

An ocean selfie to remember what turning 24 looked and felt like. It was and remains very happy.

There are so many deer here. I've seen 2-3 a day the last week but today set a record with five, including one with antlers! They all have big ears and are a bit larger than the deer I saw in the east. I recently learned they're not hunted here which explains their abundance. Most of the time I see them on the roads in the Del Monte Forest, always taking their time. The other day though, there were two in downtown Monterey among the many homes. A smaller one was climbing a set of stone steps to a front door while it's parent or guardian spent some time camouflage in this wood pile. 

             

I visited my brother and his girlfriend in Berkeley over the weekend. The trip was a little over two hours each way and immediately brought my back to driving across the country with my Mom a few weeks ago. I hadn't been in a car for that long since, and getting gas for the first time in a week or so brought me back to purchasing it at least once daily for 11 days. The time spent there was so fun and the food delicious. The drive is also quite nice, spanning multiple microclimates and filled with agricultural fields and hills. 

Berkeley.

Transition & Succulents

I began work yesterday and through new colleagues and activities in the evenings, I'm feeling like I'm really getting to know Monterey Bay! The transition here has been unlike any before, it's most similar to college, but so different as I'm not surrounded by peers also looking to make friends. I've realized how much I love having people around and how important it is that I get involved where I can and meet people. So far, so good. 

I recently moved to Pebble Beach (temporarily) and found the microclimates I'd heard about in this region are true! Pebble Beach is very close to the ocean and foggy nearly all day, and usually between 57 and 61 degrees day and night. Each evening when I've traveled a mile or two inland though, it's sunny and warm and the socks and sweaters are removed! I've been assured by many that September and October will bring summer and that this is the foggiest and chilliest time of year.

Before I left Santa Cruz over the weekend I visited one more Redwood forest (Henry Cowell) after visiting the Big Basin forest the day before. The height of the trees and the amount of shade they provided amazed me.

 I was referred to the amazing Succulent Gardens greenhouse in the town of Moss Landing (great name!), which might best be described as a football field-sized greenhouse of succulents and cacti. I bought a few little succulents and loved seeing so many different varieties of the plants.

Flowers in Pacific Grove last night and street scene in Monterey this evening.