Things I Have Learned About Cali Living So Far....

The posted picture is along my nightly walk with Roxie. I live in the coolest little neighborhood. It is surrounded by water. I have Mission Bay within 2 or 3 blocks and the Pacific Ocean about a mile away. It is an active neighborhood with people constantly out walking, jogging, riding their bikes etc. It feels extremely safe and I am enjoying being out and about. We have had a little bit of a heat wave here recently and it is actually cooler outside than inside (remember....no AC) so Rox and I have found every excuse to get out and about. I have been hitting the beach most days for a few hours (no pups allowed until after 6 unfortunately) and then we spent several hours in my hillside neighborhood park. It overlooks the ocean and you can see the San Diego skyline in the distance. We also try to do about a 2 mile walk every night. Rox loves it and I love it that she comes home exhausted and tired :) We are settling in nicely and enjoying it.

As I am out and about I have been noticing a lot of things. Let's be honest...if you know me...you know I am insanely nosy...but let's use the word "curious" as it sounds better and less "stalkerish" Californians are nice but in a different way...back home I am used to Southern gents, good manners, people nodding at you as you walk by, and just common courtesy. People aren't exactly that way here...I feel odd when I pass someone on the grocery aisle and say "excuse me" Maybe I am "over nice"? (leave your comments to yourself...ha) but I guess I just say Thank You, Excuse Me, Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am more than most people around here. They are friendly in the sense they come up and pet Roxie and want to talk about her....if you walk out your door they do say good morning and smile...it just feels different. Hard to put in words I guess. Maybe you don't realize the Southern charm back home until you leave it.

I have also learned there is one Chik -Fil-A in San Diego (as far as I know) and it is only minutes from my apartment. This will def. come in handy when craving sweet tea or a chicken biscuit! I wonder if people out here realize how amazing it is?!?! I will have to spread the word for sure.

Driving out here will take getting used to...you have to be a little more aggressive and fast paced. I kinda drive like a grandma (I put my turn signal on for everything!) and well...I am quickly learning to have more confidence and more guts. I have also come to accept my car is 5 years old and is gonna have scratches, dents, scrapes etc. out here. Street parking isn't car friendly and that is alright I guess. You also have to be "hands free" while driving out here. I refuse to wear a nerdy Blue Tooth and can't stand speaker phone...so I just don't chat in the car. Fine by me...it's safer anyway and I actually remember going through intersections and green lights now! ha

The time change will take getting used to. Not as far as sleeping...I am already adjusted but as far as keeping up with people back home. I am terrible at the phone as it is...if I can't text you our friendship is almost destined to be doomed! (except for Regs who even though it is 2010 still has no texting capabilities...lucky I love you enough to chat on the phone!) but it takes planning to talk to people. I wake up and most people are in the middle of their work day. People get off work and I am in the middle of my day. I am sitting down to relax for the night and people are going to bed. So please...don't be offended if I don't call or text you...the timing is just off and makes it difficult. Emails will probably be my saving grace.

Living in SoCal is expensive...but ok I was aware of this before I moved. Trying to switch over car insurance, get car tags (2...one in front and back), change drivers license, get a Smog test blah, blah, blah. I even have to take a written exam for my license. Little known fact: I failed my written test 3 times when I was 15..that's right...3 times. So...to say I am a little nervous about this test is an understatement. How lame will I feel if I don't pass it?!?

So while moving a cross country is no small task I still think it will be worth it! 80 and sunny today so what is there to complain about right?