I start the day with packing my bags, because I’m moving to a different apartment today. I’m excited about it, because it looks very nice on the pictures and it’s close to the beach.
West is best
In the morning it’s still raining, but I’m feeling quite better again. I think all the extra fruit and vitamin drinks have done their job. I figure it’s good weather for doing some work, so I walk to the coffice. Luckily it’s dry for a moment just when I go outside. It’s nice and quite at the coffee place and I’m happy to do a bit of work again. It might sound strange to some people, but I feel like I’ve actually missed work a bit. I enjoy working on some websites again. While in the coffee place I notice that it’s the strangest weather today. One moment it’s dark, grey and rainy, the other moment bright blue skies and sunshine again. I decide to stay at the coffee place for the rest of the morning.
Hot chocolate weather
My grandparents from the Netherlands are visiting me. We’re having a fun day of walking around town. They’ve rented a big hotel room themselves where we go to at the end of the day. As I walk into the room I see a lot of old stuff like a record for a record player. I thank my grandparents for the fun day and tell my grandma how happy I am that they’re still here. Especially since I remember my grandpa laying in the hospital years ago. Then she looks me in the eye and I know it… It’s just a dream. I wake up in a hotel room and turn on the lights a bit. I’m thinking I should call my mom and tell her of this really nice dream. I lay down for another moment and wake up again, this time for real in the small apartment room I’m renting here.
Discovering the neighborhood
This morning I feel a bit tired for the first time since I’m here. I decide to take it slow, do some laundry and then head to my coffice (coffee place office). It’s nice to to go the same place every morning, because I see familiar people which makes me feel more at home. The weather is beautiful again today, so I don’t stay too long inside and go for a walk through the neighbourhood.
Bike riding in San Diego
Every day here in San Diego has been filled with new experiences so far. This morning I call with my family and tell them that I’ll keep writing daily as long as there is something to write about. And today I’m in for a fun trip again. Around 10 o’clock in the morning Brittany is at my house with two mountainbikes on the back of her car.
Friends surprise visit
I see a text from my friends Nancy and Matt from Orange County that they’d like to drive down to San Diego to meet with me today. I’m excited to see them again after about 2.5 years. We had a lot of fun last time with some of the highlights being that they took to me to Disneyland and also to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. They’re some of the friendliest people I know.
Getting around in San Diego
I really like to be in this early day rhythm. Waking up between 3am and 4am allows me to take it easy and have a bigger window of shared time with people back home. I take a shower and make myself breakfast. Another guest of the house is awake to get to work, but he’s not very talkative. I look on the map and see that there is a Starbucks about a mile away that opens at 5AM. I love that about America too, that there are coffee places open early in the day. In The Netherlands most coffee places don’t open before 8AM.
Searching for an apartment
First thing on my todo list for today is to book an apartment. I’ve been looking at Airbnb and Booking the past few days, but still find it a bit challenging to make a final choice. San Diego is not super cheap, so it’s a matter of finding a right balance between comfort and affordability.
Relaxed vacation day
On my second day here in San Diego I wake up around 3am. That’s already half an hour later than yesterday, so I think I’ll slowly get adjusted here. I don’t mind waking up that early actually, because it allows me to finish quite some work before the sun gets up. I help some clients, answer e-mails and call with one of my designer friends about a work project. I am really thankful to have a profession that I like and can do everywhere in the world where there is internet.
First day in San Diego
One of the things I like about domestic flights in America is how fast it usually goes to land and get your luggage. No waiting for security or anything, just walking to the luggage belt, picking up your checked bags and you’re good to go. It’s even better when one of your friends is there to pick you up.