I’ve spent my entire life in Southern California. I grew up surfing and playing sports with the neighborhood kids. I had a real love for surfing. We’d bike to the beach every weekend with a trailer hooked to the back of someone’s bike hauling our surfboards, boogie boards and fins. We’d spend all day at the beach and ride back.
Hermosa Beach was about 7 miles each way from the house I grew up in. When we made that final turn up the block to my house, my brother and I would dump our stuff in the driveway and run into house to gorge on whatever we could find in the kitchen. Meanwhile, my mom would be telling us dinner would be ready soon.
“Don’t spoil your appetite”.
I loved the beach and loved surfing. During high school, my life was spent at the beach when I wasn’t in school. Once I got my car during senior year, my schedule was down to four classes so I was able to bolt from school and go straight to the beach at noon with whoever wanted to tagged along.
It was an awesome time for me.
Tina recently finished her matching process for internship. She applied and interviewed in NC and FL last month. This morning we found out she was granted a one year internship in Bradenton, FL. She’s worked so hard to get to this point. It’s a huge milestone and she’s pretty excited to start. I’m very proud of what she’s been able to accomplish working through her doctorate.
Why Bradenton? It’s partially economics and partially family reasons. Tina has family in Bradenton and we’ve come to the realization that we’ll never be able to afford a house here unless we move inland. We’ve been renting a 2 BR/2 BA condo here about 2 miles from the beach. Even the rent is rediculous ($1900/mo).
In four months, we’ll be packing up a truck and hauling all our possessions along with my car and our little mutt over 2600 miles.
I never dreamed I’d ever leave my homeland but, the time has come to move on. I don’t surf anymore but I’ll miss SoCal and my family dearly. It will be a difficult transition for me but, I’m excited to start this new chapter in our lives.
I’ve lived my entire life in one state also. This will be some transition for you. But at least it is Florida.
I can not even relate to growing up in California and going to the beach. Life in suburban Chicago (and later in central Illinois) is just not like that. lol
I know you hate to leave, but it sounds like an exciting time. Congrats to Tina for her achievement.
The beginning of a great adventure, yo. I never exactly lived in one state, but like you, ended up packing up after many years in one spot after the Good Doctor Mondo finished her Ph.D. I have to tell you, zero regrets whatsoever, the move was great for both of us. And I’m sure you’ll find Bradenton to be that way, as well, even if you’ll have to take up some new hobbies. Oh, and Fla’s still got no personal income tax, no? Best wishes!
GL Smokee!
Welcome to my neck of the woods. Have fun with $100 buyin live games. Shoot me an e-mail when you get here.
Good luck on the move and congrats to Tina!
I actually surfed in Naples last winter… doesn’t happen very often, but you can catch some crappy hurricane swell during the fall/winter. Or hop on 4 and jet across to New Smyrna – actually pretty good waves there (Slater grew up nearby at cocoa beach).
Or maybe kite surfing is good there? Always wanted to try that, but no room in the budget for yet another expensive as hell sport.
Anyway… congrats! I’m sure you 2 will do great there.
GL with the move! Now that L(D)T is gone, did you really want to stay in San Diego anyway?
Liked hearing about your beach years. Good luck.
I really like the Blog!
Good luck on your move. I’ve moved so many times in my lifetime I can’t even remember how many times. I hear many great things about Florida (no income tax, casino gambling, weather in the winter, beaches, etc) I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Plus I hear real estate is priced to sell right now in FL.
Good post….and congratulations on becoming a new RedSox fan (there are more in Fla. then in Mass.) along with your boy John Lackey!
GLGL! I travel to Sarasota couple times a year for work. Not too bad. Really enjoy staying out in Siesta Key!
Cheers to you and your fam!
[...] Hopefully, my mindset will turnaround and my online poker strategy will improve enough to win my way into the next TOC. In between BBT5 tournaments, I’ll continue packing and getting ready for our big move next month. [...]