Dear My Gorgeous Pretties,

Well, here we are. A new season of life yet again. I’ve crossed over the valley of the shadow of death and immediately landed in the ocean. Oooohh, how I missed the waves crashing against the shore, the sand under my toes, the sun on my face, the smell of salt water up my nostrils. So necessary after 9 months in the desert. I had plans to be there longer, but as we know, we plan and God plans and God is the Best of Planners, and when He says, “Go!” Well, you better git to gittin! So I had to get gone and quench my thirst in the ocean. A mermaid gone from her home for far too long.

If you’ve ever driven up the Cali Coast you know there are so many cute little beach towns along the way. I’ve driven up a couple times and took the train down to San Diego once when my nephew was based there. Both directions offer absolutely stunning scenes straight out of a movie, but one of my favorite stops was Pismo Beach, north of Santa Barbara just above Los Padres National Forest. As soon as I left Death Valley I knew I had to go back. I’ve actually never been to Santa Barbara though now that I mention it, so I think I need to add that to my list!

Anywho, Pismo Beach is iconic. The wind carried the salt water on the night breeze a good 10 miles inland as I was approaching and the hair on my arms immediately stood up, recognizing the call of the sea. I was back home. And it felt good to be back. Once a mermaid, always a mermaid.

Though this time we did have to swim upstream to calmer waters.

I got in late so I didn’t hit the beach until the next day, but I did hit my head against that good pillow for some much needed R&R. If 9 months is the perfect amount of time to create & birth an actual human being, then surely it’s long enough to transform our own lives internally, externally, or both. When you are on your path and your growth is obvious and significant to you and those around you, it’s going to make a lot of people uncomfortable, particularly those who benefited from you being small, even if they were with you from day one. But it’s not your responsibility to comfort or conform to their discomfort. You are allowed to grow and outgrow places and people. Those who are meant to walk with you will stay and grow with you, encouraging your evolution. Others will fall off naturally. Growth isn’t always comfortable, but your playing small doesn’t serve the world, SweetHaHts. And it doesn’t serve your Highest Self either. So stand tall, roots firmly planted, and continue your upward trajectory. I demand it!

But back to the beach—

A small, but mighty, beach community of about 10k, Pismo Beach is known for its Pismo Clams, which supported its commercial & recreational fishing industry, and were “harvested by the millions.”

You can still catch guys & gals fishing at the end of the pier.

And what’s a beach without birds? Pismo Pier offers the perfect escape for the birdwatching beach babes.

And if you stare out into the Great Wide Somewhere long enough, something even greater might just crest up from the oceanic depths to blow water at you.

I’ve only seen dolphins personally, but I’m optimistic about my whale watching prospects. Have you seen any whales up close and personal?

*Cloudy with a chance of biker cop patrol.*

*Scuttle showing off as per youzsh. He is pretty tho*

They even had doggie daycare/training while you and the fam go for a stroll.

Stop by the Visitor Center at the entrance of the pier for all the to-do & see.

Day 2 took me to pristine Dinosaur Park, a little something for the littles and the adults, sitting atop dramatic cliffs and bluffs overlooking the Pacific. It was truly all the rage. Pics simply do it no justice, but it’s whatcha get.

Life after death, it’s a beach!

the (milky) way of the dragon