Don’t get me wrong, the weather has been fine. But Palm Springs ruined me. Ireland kept up the charade of sunshine, so that by the time I got back to Larry in Southern California, I was mentally ready for my sunshine and t-shirt weather, and I was left wanting. We did not really get great weather in Claremont, with the exception of a couple teasing days, and I have continued to be slightly dissatisfied as we’ve moved around the coastal areas of LA. I can’t help it. It is a known fact that I am solar powered. I resent having to layer up. When we have more clouds and wind and cool temperatures than sunny, warm, wonderful days it impacts me somewhat. First world problems, I know. But I was very appreciative of every pocket of blue sky that we got, and we took those opportunities to get out and about.

This truncated week in Huntington Beach was spent mostly resting, not having to care for anything or anyone, and no real sightseeing or bucket list items. It was a regular, living a normal life kind of week. The usual chores and activities and work, with a few pockets of entertainment and fun thrown in to keep us smiling. We left Claremont on Easter and drove to Laguna Beach for a lovely lunch with gorgeous views. We strolled the boardwalk and some of the pedestrian areas before making our way to our next AirBnB in Huntington Beach. We had a lovely sunset dinner on the beach and then bravely and stubbornly walked against the wind to appreciate the entire length of the Huntington Pier.

The following day I was lucky enough to catch up with a friend whom I had not seen in *gulp* almost a decade back in Munich. It was so wonderful to get lunch and hear all about the kids who are now not kids. That evening, Larry and I went into LA to see the comedian, Marc Maron. We were surprised when Marc called to the stage John Mulaney. It was a very fun and funny evening. Yesterday, after work, we hopped in Louie and headed over to Newport beach and Balboa Village. There we took the very short ferry to Balboa Island for an enjoyable stroll. Today, we checked out of the apartment and are currently parked at Mother’s Beach in Naples, catching up on the blog while Larry finishes out his work day. We will make our way over the 405, through the infamous LA traffic, along the Pacific Coast Highway to our next destination.

Regardless of weather, there is no doubt that California is pretty. The flowers thrive effortlessly. The people are beautiful. The coastline is gorgeous. The landscape is stunning. The mountains, the ocean, the desert; there’s something for everyone. And when the sun is shining it’s like heaven on Earth.