A Southern California winter.

When I was in India, and packing for my move to USA as a brand new Grad student, I realized I had to buy new winter clothes, for things like ice, snow, sleet, etc. I imagined myself sashaying down the road in a beige trenchcoat with sky high boots and a red beanie perched on my head. But all the expectations went for a toss when I realized San Diego is a part of southern California and it’s a paradise in the big bad world of America. I spoke to a senior who was already there since a year and she told me that I will rarely need warm clothes. So I happily carried ONE sweatshirt and one beanie and muffler that my friend had knitted for me.

I wish I could bury that senior in cold sand and put a brick of ice on top. What she did not tell me was that San Diego weather has a mind of it’s own. It is paradise, but only from 10 am to 3 pm, and that too only from June to August. The rest of the time, you will be fighting between too much sun and too much wind.

Let me take you through a snapshot of SoCal winters. For the ease of writing, we will refer to the bo*ty shorts and puffer jacket wearing species as SoCalnian.

1. When a SoCalnian says Fall colors, they mean 2 shades of brown. Light brown, and dead brown.
2. It is normal to see a SoCalnian step out of the home, in the morning in shorts, and keep a thin hoodie, and a thick jacket in the car. Both of them come out eventually depending on the hour.
3. The same hoodie and jacket rule is dependent on the area too. It could be a beautiful 70 deg weather, but go close to the Pacific Ocean, and you will freeze you b*tt off.
4. A SoCalnian never takes wind lightly. And after my last Malibu camping trip, Brian has re-learnt that(His tent flew away!)
5. We do love our boots, and we are lucky enough weather-wise to be able to rock mini skirts with boots. But no socks with sandals, please.
6. You can have a perfect sunny day in San Diego and a massive snow blow out going on 2 hours away at Julian/Big Bear, at the same time.
7. SoCal and NorCal are on opposite ends of a spectrum. NorCal looks, feels, and is cold, whereas SoCal has everyone hoodwinked by looking warm.
8. Rainy season hits in the middle of winter, and if there isnt a drought, then it rains, to ruin your weekends.( I am only kidding rain Gods, please dont flood Mission Valley!)
9. You can tell apart a SoCalnian and non-SoCalnian at any tourist point, by the souvenir hoodie they are wearing. Sudden winds prompt emergency souvenir purchases.
10. A SoCalnian can talk about the weather every single day at breakfast, lunch or dinner, because it changes by breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can also range from 21 deg C today to 29 deg C by Wednesday. I just checked the weather app.

However it is, or whatever it is, I love this place! I was not paid by San Diego tourism board to say this all, although, I do not mind that.

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Flipflops in the sunshine

There are times when I curse living so far away from home, when it’s just way too hot, or way too chilly, or I can’t find good things to do or good food to be devoured.

Then there are times that this place makes me fall in love with my surroundings again. And again. Saturday was one such time.

 

Shawn and I have been hanging out with Melissa(an ex project engineer with my company, she got laid off, she is not too upset :D) since last two weeks at her place and in a beach park at Newport Beach to watch her boyfriend Sebas play Rugby. He plays for the Back Bay league team and they are pretty serious with their uniforms, and physio and waterboys. Unlike us softballers who show up in a Bazinga tshirt and hurl insults on our own teammates. Yup.

The previous to last Saturday was rather gloomy, and super cold with some drizzling rain. I was wearing two hoodies and borrowed jeans on my shorts. Even the hot chocolate in our hands wasn’t warming us up.

But last Saturday was just bliss. BJ’s yummy deep dish pizza was had, berry cider was downed, Peanut(Missy’s li’l Yorkie) was teased. We had lounging chairs at the park and later at the beach. I had my floppy wicker hat on. I realized how wonderful a 28 degree C sunlight feels on the skin mixed with a cool sea breeze. I have a crazy tan going on though where my legs look like I am wearing permanent stockings, even after religiously applying sunscreen. Sheesh. 

Someone was very tired after a nice run on the beach and a hearty poop.