A Taste of A Bear's Life

Sister and I on the Eifel Tower








Mom and I in Switzerland

Chris and I in Palm Springs

Roomies for Life

Friends for Life

So Santa Cruz

Note: This story doesn't have anything to do with bears/attacks. 

With a full week off and a lot of motivation to drive the coast of California, I ventured up to good ol' Santa Cruz to visit the aunt and cousin. The trip was relaxing and rejuvenating, as she lived 2 blocks from Steamers and the Lighthouse - I found myself easily escaping busy city life. 

To my surprise - the hustle and bustle of city life was replaced with the [Santa Cruz generation] . . . . . . 

The moment I arrived in SC, my aunt took me to the coast to watch the sunset. We hit a nook in the road filled with parked cars/RV's and numerous music playing "free spirited" individuals. As I walked, I smelt something that took me back to my college days (you know, all 9 months ago that it ended) of walking by dorm rooms yelling "don't get caught." It was "grass" - and I realized in that moment, what everyone says about SC really is true. You can sit along the coast and do illegal substances without getting in trouble - my eyes were really widened, though my un-interest in the matter remained the same. 

The amount of homelessness was also shocking to me. As someone whose daily work entails figuring out how to secure these people's lives - I first felt for each of them. After a run down to the boardwalk, I was suddenly surrounded by them in the fullest and was intrigued. One man began following me as I walked, and his female friend yelled, "Get back here, don't make me take out your leash." I was scared, but liberated (as odd as that sounds) just being somewhere different then the comfortable, safe and wonderful Costa Mesa. 

Anyway - my point to this random Santa Cruz adventure is: 

Being somewhere totally different/better/worse is totally needed in the fast past world we live in to be able to slow down and take in someone else's culture/experiences. I don't think I could ever live somewhere so liberal, just because it's not quite me, but it was fun to place myself into it for the short-term. 

Santa Cruz thanks - and to all of you reading this - sorry it's so long.  

Welcome!

Welcome to "Bear Attack." Soon enough I'll figure out exactly what I'll be talking about. That's all.