Every day is Mayday
May 1st, 2007 by amylherzog
We had a lovely day here today, even by the local standards. It was 65 degrees, sunny, and very clear. To the north, you could see all the way into the Santa Cruz mountains (about an hour away). To the west, nothing but ocean. I feel like I write a lot about our day-to-day activities here, but that I haven’t spent much time talking about this place we picked up and moved to. Except maybe to say, again and again, how beautiful it is here.
(View into the bay from Lovers’ Point, Pacific Grove.)
And it is lovely. It takes my breath away, sometimes, even after almost a year here. But there’s more than just the lovely water and trees. First of all, the Monterey Peninsula is pretty small, both geographically and in terms of population. At around 50,000 people, it’s as populous as the several-town area I grew up (if more culturally sophisticated), and really quite a lot smaller than anywhere I’ve lived since leaving home.
(Looking back at Lovers’ Point from the pedestrian/bike path that runs around the peninsula.)
The size has both advantages and disadvantages. I think my family, when visiting, feels more at home here than they ever did near Boston. Not only is the ocean right there, just like home in Maine, but it has that friendly small-town feel, particularly to a tourist. It’s not too big to comprehend. And people are much more friendly here than in a big city, simply because we can be, I think. You see the same people as you go about your life. On the other hand, if you want something that isn’t at Target or Home Depot, you’re driving an hour and a half up to San Jose to get it. There’s one traditional movie theater and one art-house theater. There aren’t a ton of restaurants, and the ethnic food is very limited.
(Our street.)
It’s true of the whole peninsula, but especially where we live here in Pebble Beach, life has a very easy feel. I think this is simply woven through the local culture, since we have such a high percentage of retirees here. People aren’t in a hurry. Nothing is very far, and times are loosely-kept. Jon loves this. I love it too, intellectually, but my inner New Englander sometimes gets in the way of my emotional enjoyment. (Like when I’m stuck behind someone who’s only going 15 miles an hour, enjoying the scenery.)
(Spanish Bay beach, 15 minute walk from the house.)
We’re talking a lot about what we’d like to do for housing next year–our lease is up at the end of July, and we’d love to have a yard. We toy with the idea of moving out of Pebble Beach and into Pacific Grove or Carmel, which are more family-friendly, but it’s hard to think about leaving our peaceful oasis. Pebble Beach, since it’s county land owned by a corporation and very well-protected, is much more green. There’s a lot of space between houses, and no sound but the ocean when we open the windows. Pacific Grove and Carmel are much closer to the typical beach-town: houses quite close together, painted lots of fun and interesting colors. More lively, but… well, that’s it. More lively. :) Less wildlife, more noise. On the other hand, lots more families with young children if we leave PB. May we all always have such choices.
(Sunset, over rocks at Asilomar State Beach.)
Sunsets are lovely here, but honestly I miss sunrise back East. I find the beginning of the day much more quiet and calm, and that speaks to me more right now. Sunset over the Pacific is brash, warm, fiery. I really miss the quiet pre-dawn purple, the first silent peeks of light over the water (especially on a cold morning), and then warm light ushering in a new day. Call me crazy.
Jacob saw his first helicopter today. He was pretty excited about the way it looked, up there in the sky like a bug, but he hated the sound.