The Getaway

Crossing the horizon, I felt the warmth of the sun across my face from the airplane window. I opened my eyes to greet a new day back at home. This was my best getaway yet! This was a solo trip I had always wanted to take. Since my breakup it was exactly what I needed. No-one to consult or be concerned with, just my own adventure to do as I pleased. I think we all need one of these in our lives.

About a month ago I had decided it was time to see Italy. It was a dream I had since I was 10 and flipped through a picture book on my moms table. What a beautiful place! The flowers, the buildings, the colors, the atmosphere was breathtaking! I could see myself right there. Its like I could jump inside that book!

So there I was at 24 sitting at a tiny cafe sipping my espresso. I felt so content. I knew I found my place in this little sea side town. It was so wonderful! I made so many discoveries there and found my true self for the first time. The exquisite shops and the smell from the bakery of fresh bread hit my senses from all directions. I explored the sites and went on all the tours. Everyday I went to a new cafe and just sat there eating and sipping my coffee, people watching, and taking in everything I could.

When I took the time I really saw the place where I was. No hurrying from one place to the next. I saw the beauty, I smelled the aromas, I touched the history, and I heard the laughter of people also enjoying the wonder as much as I was. Italians are really great at enjoying life. I admire their joy and amazement in everything! I learned so much there. I now understood how to embrace myself and make myself happy everyday by enjoying the little things and discovering what I value. Isn't that what it all should be about? Yeah we have to get a job and pay bills, but that is not all! Finding our bliss isn't that corny after all. I need it and I was going to find it here and take it with me.

Back at home, I was determined to set up my new life here in Carmel. I grew up here and always had a wandering eye. I definitely was a dreamer. I think I was a nomad at heart. In school I always explored History and Anthropology. I loved cultures of every kind. I wanted to know everything I could and I just loved it! So being back at home I just decided I would change my life and make it all that I wanted here. I began to paint, I bought myself an espresso machine, I went on more walks and I just enjoyed the little things more. Less stressing over the trivial things in life. My friends kind of chuckled at me, and I guess I sort of was too. But it was my attempt at making my own way. I was serious about my pursuits and carved out an amazing new life.

My girls and I decided we would all create new lives. They saw my happiness and wanted their own bliss. They of course didn't go all the way to Italy to get there. So here we were, the four of us, living side by side in our little bubble we created on the edge of town. We had painted each house a different color. Planted trees and flowers all over creating a beautiful garden to wake up to everyday, and places to lounge all over the property. We went on walks and down to the beach to breath in all the fresh air. It was wonderful.

We obtained the property from my uncle with the promise that we could change it into something the community would love. We really had no idea what exactly we were doing at all. We had no real experience with something like this. But we all needed it! My friend Sarah had all the carpentary connections. And we had wonderful local artists willing to pitch in. The local cafe and bookstore was right in the middle of our project, which was a perfect addition.

Pretty soon, people around town started coming by and admiring our work. They loved our oasis! It made us feel really good to create a small paradise. It made people smile and that was worth so much! We started talking about branching out and including more people into our paradise. We never thought it would turn into this amazing place to come see and be a part of. I think it was just our labor of love and we knew it would be awesome and we could pull it off.

More and more people helped and made our getaway better than we ever imagined! It spanned 3 city blocks! We even set up a side garden where kids could play and people were inspired to have a picnic, paint, nap under a tree, or just sit quietly for a while. Luckily our local green thumbs also wanted to participate and showed us how to create an amazing sustainable community garden where we all pitched in. It was the best idea we ever had! And we could have never dreamed that it would turn out like this. We were so lucky that others were wanting to make these same changes. I loved how we all were inspired to come up with such incredible ideas and use our creativity like this. Carmel was the place I always wished for now! A place to live dreams and inspire a community. Not bad, since it all came about from a breakup and a trip to Italy!

Fast forward 2 years and I am still here with my new life. I still do all the things I decided to when I returned home. I am happy! I am still on my own with my dog Jack, the two of us. My life is better than I could have ever created in my mind. Who knows what my future holds, but its on my terms. Isn't that the best way to live?