Ever since I first went to San Diego, I absolutely fell in love. I said to myself, "This is where I want to be. This is where I want to live. This is where I want to spend the rest of my life." As I stood at the edge of North America, I gazed across the mass of the Pacific Ocean to as far as my eyes could see. While salt water ran up my nostrils and the chilly moisture from the air settled upon my skin, I had one of those intellectual moments about what I really want to do with my life. And from there, living in San Diego has been one of my biggest goals.
I have only dreamed of packing up everything I have and leaving everything I've grown up with and moving away to the City that stole my heart. Through countless days, through countless dreams and anxious feelings, Finally I have been able to adjust certain situations and outcomes in order to finally sprint after fulfilling one of my life long dreams. Overall I still may be trying to figure out what to completely do with my life, but as of now moving and living in San Diego is the first step.
My whole life I have grown up in the mountains. Desert hot summer days and snow covered winter wonderlands. I have spend countless days shredding the pow pow all around Lake Tahoe's ski resorts and soaking up the sun on the shorelines of Lake Tahoe. It has been my life. The first time I was on skies I was only three years old and the first time I rode a snowboard I was five. Now almost 20 years later, snowboarding still has been my external escape where I have felt the most free without any worries in the world. This winter I sold my snowboard and boots in order to put the money towards a surf board and wet suite. I feel like I just dumped my girlfriend of 20 years and decided to start dating her sister.
I have surfed quite a few times before, but nothing to were I could shred a perfect wave just as I can shred the packed, freshly groomed snow at 8 a.m. I am excited to start a new hobby, to start a new sense of feeling free in this world, experience a new emotion and a new adrenaline rush that is good for the soul.
Away from surfing, I am ready to experience a whole new city. I will be living my dream of being minutes from the incredible ocean. I have been back and forth to the ocean and the mountains. I have to say it has been difficult to see the beauty in the ocean as I see the beauty in the mountains. But the last time I was in the ocean I started to shift mindsets. The mountains and the ocean are two both incredible structures in nature and each bring a breath of life for me. Each has their own beauty and share it through different pathways. When I look out across the ocean, my mind rushes with endless possibilities and what this world still has to offer me and what I still have to offer this world.
But continuing, I will probably no longer have to wear shoes half of the year. (I hate shoes). I get to watch the sun dip down in the distance as it slowly moves to the other side of the world. Eat tacos every Tuesday religiously at a huge selection of restaurants and bars all over San Diego. Drive to Mexico, although I probably will not enter because I don't want to be at the feet of the Cartel begging for my life, instead get cheaper flights into Mexico and stay at safer locations. Continue to listen to my reggae music and actually have the feeling of the beach around me. All-embracing the wonderful gifts that this new city will bring to me.
Most have heard the saying, "The grass is not greener on the other side, but greener where you water it." My father has told me that plenty of times and I have done my best to do so. I have done that in each city or town that I have lived in and I have been able to experience such joy. I will not be running away from Reno because its so called "trash" or "worst city to live" or have had my own personal problems there, personally I have started to love this city but its time for a change. Just as any place, thing, or human being has its flaws, if you can see the higher quality, enjoy incalculable experiences and embrace your surroundings, life can be fulfilled and bring such joy. One of my favorite artist explains it as a Beautiful Mind, and I believe that is a perfect way to look at it.
I can not wait to live my dream. At first I am sure it may be complicated adjusting to the consistent warm weather, having to live three blocks away from Mission Bay and 10 blocks away from the Pacific Ocean, finding enough tank tops to make it through a few weeks before doing laundry or let alone deciding if I should even put a shirt on before I walk outside, picking out the perfect board shorts that only show a little bit of my thighs but not too much that is unpleasing and blinding to the eye, finding a surf board and/or paddle board in order to step out and ride the ocean, dealing with salt water in my nose for hours after I get out of the ocean, keeping enough sun screen on my bald head so that it doesn't get burned but instead gets a nice golden tan, dealing with all the attractive women, and of course deciding what activities to do all the time! Its going to be pretty rough and quite the learning experience.
Away from the small complications I may encounter there are actual difficulties I will have to go through. My family means the world to me, I would be nothing without them and being a good nine-hours away from them is going to be tough. I also sold my car so I will be carless, yet I will have a bike, long board, and I am going to do my best to figure out the transit system. I also will be in the hunt for a big boy job, which to me will be the most difficult and will take many prayers, submitted applications and Im sure stressful interviews in order to hopefully get a job. A job that I am able to provide happiness to others and fulfill a greater calling for myself.
Finishing up this post, I am grateful for this opportunity to move to San Diego. Ill actually be living in Pacific Beach and hopefully staying around that area. My last day in Reno will be January 5th and leaving bright and early Monday January 6th in a big Uhal truck to trek all the way to Pacific Beach. Once settled my doors will always be open for anyone to come visit and have some San Diego fun. I will be buying a GoPro and documenting a lot of fun things I do around there and I will be traveling for around 10 days for my 24th birthday to a undecided place somewhere in this world. I will be back for graduation in May and then back down to SD! For now keep in touch and You Stay Classy, Reno.
