An Endless Summer to Remember

Sunsets here in these parts are off-the-wall stunning!

Summer is the season that everybody and their brother wait for year after year. It's the mother of all seasons for school kids, avid travelers, teachers, and parents who need a break from the winter blues. But summer is also contingent on where you live and how you live.

Here on the Central California coast, we view summer in a different light. We slide into the Spring season and May gray. Then the skies turn to June gloom. And if two months of foggy conditions isn't enough for our mental state, we have no-sky July and Fogust, which is to say that for four months out of each year, a prevailing coolness and not much sun is our theme.

Do we love it, or do we anticipate the fall season and the most beautiful weather imaginable? I'd venture to say a little bit of both. When the country is baking in 100-plus degrees in certain states around America, we are wearing a few layers to keep warm. Tourists come to this area and expect to hang out on the beach in swimsuits, only to rush to their towel areas and wrap themselves up in blankets and extra clothing.

I used to be one of those tourists many moons ago. Before I discovered the nirvana of where I currently live, I would be that person who packed my sunscreen, a hat, a good book, a few snacks, lots of water, and my best beach towel. Once I arrived at the sand and saw the whitecaps out on the ocean, coupled with 50 or 60 degree weather, I was like "what in the f**k is going on?" My attitude was deflated, and my relaxation intentions went out with the wind.

Now, five years later and I get it. Summers are endless days of mixed weather conditions. I'm not one to dwell on the weather, mainly because it's a topic that feels like a filler when there's nothing else to talk about. Los Osos, though, it's such a super sweet spot to live and work and raise a family in, yet the weather becomes the topic as it changes on a dime. An endless summer for one family could be a drag for a tourist.

Which is why I love autumn. School is back in session, the extra folks around town who we don't know or who don't know the community vibe have all but left and gone back home. My birthday falls in October. The skies are sunny and perfect. The fog is gone for two whole months. The amazing sunsets and brilliant stars to follow dominate the landscape. And we don't have to wear a ton of clothing to keep warm, either.

Yes, I so look forward to September and October. The ocean is several degrees warmer, too. Not that I dunk fully into the sea, but after a barefoot run on the beach, my toes and lower legs cannot wait to dip into the cooler water. It's as if all the inflammatory responses have dissipated, and I'm ready to run another 3.5 miles.

With summer all but gone, it sure felt endless. Probably had A LOT to do with the nonstop fog, wind, and anticipation of clear skies, only to be bombarded with nothing short of wintry conditions. Some community folks here love it. I'm a sunshine girl. I get such a high from clear skies, 70ish degrees, zero wind, and spending countless hours in my garden because I'm inspired and motivated by the light. It's short-lived during May, June, July, and the earlier parts of August, yet my flowers and vegetables seem to be pretty happy with it all. :)

Remembering moments throughout the summer reads like a novel. We attended fundraisers to save our inlet from a private sale. Instead, we want to keep the land for public use due to the off-leash dog fun, the 500 or so kayaks and canoes that seem to be coming out of nowhere, and land on the shore. Not to mention the Saturday barefoot concerts at our local 9-hole golf course called Sea Pines. Whether you bring a dog or not, it's music to dance to and is always free to the public.

More endless summer things of note are Greg returning to his surfing discipline each week, Wizard gaining new friends and followers on Instagram (and in person, too!), and my long-distance telephone conversations with Mom that start pleasantly but ultimately go south once she questions why I'm not living closer to her in Arizona. These talks we have are incredibly emotional, and it takes a week or so for me to recover. Since she is now in an assisted living facility, she feels abandoned and unworthy. All of us kids have to remind her that it's the best option for her at her current age and health condition.

She's stubborn, though. Anyhoo, it makes the summer months feel like they drag on and on because I'm living in bliss, and she's feeling like her life sucks. What to do, what to do? I think back on how many years and drives from California to Arizona I've made to spend time with her, take care of my brother's dogs and animals when he leaves on a lengthy trip, and how much fun Mom and I used to have during those days when she was more mobile.

Life is different for both of us now. I'm awesomely content living with Greg and Wizard and keeping our days simple. I get to create an endless garden and nurture it every moment. I choose to stay fit and healthy at almost 66 years old. And, well...I miss much of many things from the past that I remember, yet I wouldn't trade where I'm at for anything. I've sacrificed plenty during the last 40 years, and honestly, I can't ever go back to being unhappy. Like, ever.

Having said that, I gaze out into the abundant sunshine today. The winds are light and calming, and perfect. Wizard is sleeping in his bed next to my desk. Greg just returned from a long surf sesh. And all is well. All will always be well, as long as I stay true to myself, show compassion for others, be the kind of woman I know Greg and Wizard need, and enjoy the last weeks of summer, whatever the skies may bring, whilst I pine away for the autumn months.

Here's to nature's beauty. Here's to spending time in nature and never letting go of what drives your passion. Here's to a world of peace and prosperity, and acceptance. Here's to staying in touch with family and friends, no matter the challenges they may bring. And here's to living with less and loving with more of you.

All my heart and hugs,

Gerry Ellen xoxo