A Bittersweet Goodbye

San Diego has been an amazing experience. One that we will never forget and will always hold very close to our hearts. It’s where we spent the first two years of our married life together.

Our first home together.

We’ve taken amazing trips up the California coast line.

And shared time with our families who live out here!

Gone on wonderful hikes in the desert or along the coast.

Walks on the beach after work.

Frisbee in the park overlooking the city and the bay.

Bike rides up to La Jolla for some snorkeling in the Cove.

We even got surfboards and learned…well, kinda learned how to surf!

It’s been a sort of a dream land, a permanent vacation.

I’ve made incredible friends who have encouraged me to do amazing things.

I competed in my first triathlon.

My first, second, and third half-marathons.

And walked 60 miles in the Susan G Komen Three Day for the Cure.

I’ve challenged myself and accomplished things I’m proud of.  Things I would have never thought I could do, but because of a great friend, I’ve learned to push myself.

I had a great job. It’s one of those jobs that you don’t find easily and when you do, you don’t typically walk away from it. The kind where they respect you, value your opinions and appreciate your hard work.

Yes, they tell me “Thank You” for just doing my job and it makes me want to work even harder for them and I did.  I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself and realize that I actually am good at what I do.  I’ve enjoyed working for them and they told me often how much they will miss me when I’m gone.  I will surely miss them.

I’ve learned about a part of the country that I knew nothing about and in that I’ve learned more about who I am as a person.

I’ve learned I do like rain and clouds and stormy-stay inside with a good book-kind of days. I love hot summer nights and trees all around me. I’m proud to say y’all and call Georgia home. But I’ve also enjoyed swimming in the ocean and running along the boardwalk with occasional dolphins jumping in the air.

I love taco Tuesday and California Mexican food.

I love taking The 5 north and going places.

I love the can-do attitude that seems to envelop all minds when you live here.  California has taught me to take risks and that if I want something and put my mind to it, I can accomplish it.  And THAT is powerful.

I will most definitely miss San Diego.

It will forever hold a place in my heart.  It has changed me in a good way, made me a stronger person and opened my eyes to another way of life.  I will take these things with me and be a better friend, wife and hopefully mother one day.

As we settle into our new lives and new home and as I’m painting the walls and decorating the rooms, our life in San Diego will resonate in my heart and I will surely shed a tear at what we left behind, but I will smile so big at the wonderful adventure we were lucky enough to have and at our new life ahead of us.

It is surely a bittersweet goodbye!