Posted June 15, 2016 – Narrated by Carmen
Remember playing car games on road trips? “I spy with my little eye … “
The waiting feels like that some days – even when you’re basking in luxurious digs on the San Diego bay.
Still, we’re champing at the bit to do some dry camping out in the wild boondocks – test our grit, do some serious geezer hiking, live the dream.
Two and a half weeks!
Only two-and-a-half weeks till Jim retires and in about a month we’ll begin our full-time travels.
That’s the plan anyway … after a few more chores like donating Jim’s work clothes – or “monkey suits,” as he calls them.
But these cold, flat, gray skies in concert with Jim’s long days – beginning with the dreaded 5 am commute – threaten to wind up and backhand the joy right off our faces.
On days like that, we take to the water,
Or visit an old friend on Memorial Day.
or, buy something new for Beauty, Magma 7 piece nesting cookware set, Portable Ice Maker, and a Hanging Fruit Basket
or paint some old cherry wood wine tables Jim made to match the colors of our Zip Dee chairs.
or smoke a fish over fresh rosemary boughs …
or hit The Coronado Brewery for a mini pre-retirement celebration
Hey, it sure beats counting telephone poles.
Having started several businesses, we know the agonizing limbo that lies between conceptualizing your dream and reaching achievement.
But, this space can be a blessing for spending time in research, being present, celebrate the moment …
Raza Car Club Rally
Last Saturday morning a warm gusty wind blew through our campsite carrying with it some excellent live latino music. Maybe a family reunion, we thought, or a wedding.
Eventually, the fragrance of fish tacos lured us out on a walk with the birthday boy.
Wow! Over 200 gorgeous cars and a thousand people celebrating family and automobiles.
Jim grew up a couple of miles from here in National City, and we met in high school when I moved here in 1971 – so, this unexpected Car Club event was like a time-warp – the clock spun back forty years and dropped us on Highland Avenue on a Friday night where the low-riders cruised up and down bouncing their rides til the cops came along and sent everyone home.
A police siren even went off periodically to draw us into “the moment”.
I met an old classmate there, now a Raza Car Club member.
These hobbyists and professional restoration specialists were eager to talk about their cars and explain the culture from classic bombs made between 1930 and 1955 to hoppers that are now engineered with high-tech suspension systems.
They’ve come a long way from when sand bags were used to get a car low to the ground.
Yes, all very educational, but for this home girl it’s always been about the eye candy …
The chrome
The interiors
The paint
This was the second annual Raza Car Club event with at least 200 cars and at least eight Car Clubs participating from all over California.
This free event included top-notch bands playing a variety of music – oldies, ballads, mariachi – the best in Musica de la Raza.
A truly wonderful event. If you missed, check it out next year and plan to buy a hat…
and a plate of fish tacos …
some funnel cake …
or some healthy fruit …
Okay … back to waiting.
You can see our exact route on this map.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
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