The Roomie Reunion in Ocean's Paradise

It's been three weeks since I returned to OKC from San Diego. I am excited because the dark purple bruise that trailed all the way from my knee to my ankle is almost gone. I also got my new camera in the mail to replace the one that I killed at the same time I obtained my colorful souvenir at the tide pools. Helpful hint: 8 year old cameras do not like to be dashed upon the rocks and then bathed in sea water. In fact, they dislike it so much that they spitefully refuse to ever close, turn off, turn on, or take any more pictures ever again even after leaving them buried in dry rice for several days.

My week in San Diego was in three words: Won-der-ful! I got to see California for the first time, have girl time with my old roomies, meet a roommate's boyfriend (I approve, btw, K-Rug!), fulfill a lifelong dream in going to the San Diego Zoo, visit Canyon Ridge Baptist Church, step into the cold ocean, see a little of LA (not too impressive), take a picture at the Santa Monica Pier where Route 66 ends, hike up Mount Helix, spend a day at Sea World, injure myself at the tide pools at Point Loma, walk on the Coronado Beach (which was just voted the most beautiful beach in America this year), shop in Old Town, have a Room Meeting with my roomies (on Thursday night of course!), taste an In & Out burger, have a bonfire on the beach after dark, and much more.

Truly San Diego was the most beautiful place I have ever been. Coronado Beach and Point Loma were breathtakingly gorgeous. The landscape often reminded me of Texas somehow. Except with more green, palm trees, and mountains. The weather is just about perfect year round. You know how when the weather is nice (it does happen on occasion in OK) you always ask, "Why can't it always be like this?" Move to San Diego; it is.

I loved the culture and how everyone embraced the outdoors. All restaurants have outdoor seating. The apartments don't have (or need) air conditioning. No one cares about parking half a mile away from where you are headed because walking is normal. The malls are more like outlet malls with each shop being covered but the walkways are all outdoor. But yet, the one I visited was still four or five stories high. (And I didn't see any escalators either... Although I think there were elevators.) Oh, and pets are welcome in the mall!

I noticed some other things that were also just kinda cool. Target was two stories tall, in a mall, and had a special section of the escalator for locking in shopping carts to carry them up or down. 7-11's are convenience stores but are NOT attached to a gas station. The CVS pharmacy carried firewood. There are IKEA's and trolleys, although sadly I didn't get to experience either this trip. You can get a ticket for not angling your tires when parking on the street (has to do with the hills and the potential for your e-brake failing). Oh, and if you want to spend the day at the mall, only the first couple of hours get free parking!

The city limit sign said that the population is 1,230,000 people, but rather like OKC, it doesn't feel too much like a huge city. It's spread out and rolling. The architecture often has a Spanish flavor (perhaps another reason it reminded me of Texas...) And the people are culturally diverse, easy-going, laid-back, and friendly. Oh, and according to an article I read, it is in the top 5 big cities with the highest average salaries earned by single women. It's also easy to find good, healthy, fresh foods. In fact, eating healthy and being fit (not over-weight) is probably one of the few things that Californians are downright snobby about.

But even paradise has its downfalls. Housing is expensive. Gas is expensive. To be drowning in debt is normal. Traffic in rush hour is a typical big-city nightmare. Because the weather is so nice, there is a very large homeless population. Churches are hard to find. The whole week even with all of the driving around, exploring, and getting lost I only counted four churches. Of any kind.

I have to say that with all that I saw, did, and experienced the greatest thing was being a part of Kronk & Fannlee again.* It was the second time in three years that all four of us Roomies from my Senior Year were together at one time. (The first was only for a couple of hours two years ago when two of them graduated.) I had forgotten how well we all worked together in spite of how very different we are.

We have managed to stay in fairly close touch, but that was nothing compared to being with them all again. I truly think that one of the biggest blessings that came from my college experience is my friendship with these three girls. The laughter, the encouragement, the tears, the prayers, the testimonies, the fact that we have stayed friends longer than a year (which is something I have yet to accomplish except with a couple of other people), all of this combined together makes me thank the Lord for the day He made us all roommates.

We hope to be the kind of friends who stay friends for life no matter where we all end up and no matter what directions life takes us. We hope to get together like this every few years and having our families be friends. Will that happen? I don't know, but if the last three years are any indication, then I have a pretty good feeling about the future. =)

*(If you need an explanation, read http://pennysworthofthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/chronicles-of-kronk-and-fannlee.html)