Ahhh, Instant Gratification

I love how Big Sur slows me down. Since I've left the city life to join this rural community, I go shopping less, eat out less, and need fewer external resources to entertain me. I spend way more time in nature, at home, and with my family.

In every other town I've lived in, I would get cabin fever just by hanging out at home during the day. Really, it only took half a day. Because, by mid afternoon, I would be huddled in a corner twitching and quoting scenes from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". It was not a pretty picture.

Here, now I am content at home. Okay...most of the time I'm content. Other times, I must admit, I so freakin' miss Sonic and Panera and Outback and Blockbuster and Marble Slab Creamery!

Part of the frustration in these moments of weakness is that these things aren't even within an hour drive of my home. So, not only are they vacant from Big Sur but from my life overall!

The other part of the problem is that back in the days of city life, I could be anywhere within just a few minutes. Every store or restaurant you could ever need was just down the road. Can you say, "Yay for instant gratification!"

So, here's my terrible confession: Before we moved to Big Sur, my hubby and I would be watching tv late at night, and maybe someone in the show would eat a big, juicy hamburger. Or there would be a commercial for a restaurant showing ribs or milkshakes or something like that. We would moan with craving need, pause the show, and look at each other. Then one of us would hop in the car and go get take-out. It didn't matter that it was 10:30 at night; we wanted what we had seen on tv!

We were so pitiful in our fulfillment of all advertiser's goals and our wasteful spending on instant gratification. But, you know what? I MISS IT! I get so tired of making, serving, and cleaning up 3 meals plus snacks plus desserts plus drinks day after day after day after day. Someone instantly gratify me please!

Sorry about that. I started off with the intention of bragging about how down-home and self reliant I have become.
Apparently I have a ways to go.

Tourists, Natives, and Expats

Big Sur is an island. Disconnected from the world to the east by a sea of Ventana Mountains and to the west by the Pacific Ocean, we are only connected to the mainland by one long, lonely, gorgeous stretch of highway.

Like any great island, Big Sur is made up of an odd mix of natives, expats, and tourists.

The tourists come for obvious reasons. The people, the culture, the art. But, most of all, of course, the insane visual feast that is Big Sur.

The expats come here to abandon the rest of the world and all it's nonsense for a little space and beauty that makes sense. To embrace that spirit of freedom, contentment, and individuality that can't be found in the busyness of life. Nature in all her mudsliding, forest burning, rainstorming, 4 wheel-drive-needing power reigns supreme here, slowing us down, shaking us up, and inspiring our awe. We are, like moths to a flame, drawn to this raw, furious beauty and the people it has spawned.

The natives have always been here and know everything about everyone, every event, and every place in this wild stretch of coastland. You can always recognize a local. Without being able to truly peg the Big Sur vibe in a short paragraph with a few adjectives, one can still definitively say they have their own way about them. If there were one word to describe what makes a Big Sur native recognizable, however, it is "individual". There is a flowing, comfortable energy of contentment with oneself that just exudes from a true Big Surian. It's a beautiful sight.

Sounds of the Ocean

The sound of the crashing waves is carrying all the way up to my house today.

I live about 1200 feet above the ocean. Most days, the sounds of life around us drowns out the sounds of the sea life below us. But, every once in a while, the air will be still enough or the barometric pressure low enough or the stars will align in such a way that I hear and smell the ocean as if I were right there on the beach. The waves, the sea lions barking, the salty breeze. I love days like today.

Christmas Bees

Yesterday was so warm and beautiful even the bees were out enjoying
the day.

The Day After Christmas

The day after Christmas. Also known as Decompression Day. I finally got out of my pj's after I made the kids lunch. The house is littered with crumpled wrapping paper, boxes ripped in half, toys already forgotten, and tiny toy parts that may or may not be missed when vacuumed up. The candy gluttony is over. That's because they ate it all already. I have a feeling it might be wise to clean up a little. Before someone breaks a leg.

Outside, rain clouds are rolling in and swirling around. Rain will splash against the windows for a few minutes then quiet down again. The sky has finally covered itself with a cold, grey blanket, but this morning was full of great sunbeams piercing through the clouds and shimmering on the water.

Christmas Weather

It's in the mid 60s on Christmas day. Crystal clear skies, a light breeze, and warm sun.

I just can't get over how warm the winter can be here. This is like September weather where I come from. Isn't there some kind of law against warm, sunny weather on Christmas day? Heavy winter coats, gloves, hot cocoa, and a warm fire required? That's what the songs talk about anyway. Nevertheless, I am quite happy with my cheery, light jacket kind of Christmas.

I f You Really Like Christmas...

If you haven't seen the movie "Love Actually", rent it now. Then, you too will be humming "If You Really Like Christmas" along with me. The song is a bit annoying, but it makes me giggle.

This is my second Christmas in Big Sur. Last year was a blur of still unpacked boxes, joblessness, exhaustion, diapers, jet lag (can I really claim that if we drove across instead of flying?), and a total lack of good gift ideas. Last year, Christmas was spelled S-T-R-E-S-S.

This year, however, the holidays have been smooth like butter (pronounced "butta"). I had pretty much every present picked out, purchased, and wrapped by December 10. Does it sound like I'm bragging? Because I am. We also had work this holiday season which meant we could actually buy presents without dry-sobbing at the checkout line.

The kids are still in their pajamas, playing with their toys. My littlest one keeps sneaking off with her candy to eat it in hiding. She doesn't understand that the candy is hers, and we are actually endorsing the consumption of that much sugar. Which, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm a little confused about that too. What the heck am I thinking! Even if this is Christmas and all. That big chocolate reindeer lollypop seems like an inordinate amount of sugar for such a small person!