Christmas in California

“Here’s to bringing California to America in the New Year.” Clyde & Bonnie

 

     We’ve been here for two weeks now. First L.A., then Santa Barbara & Big Sur. Today on the beach in Santa Cruz. There’s a hopefulness in the air, a sense of change on the horizon. We’re in a state where the vast majority of voters are progressive thinking and/or, to use an old term, “minorities.” California is poised to, once again, be the precursor of what’s to come, a comeback for the environment, a democracy where every vote matters, live and let live freedom. Love for others is gaining ground. When people ask us where we’re heading, we tell them, “San Francisco, for the Winter of Love.”

 

     And how’s our love life doing? Just great, even finding new depths. A friendship with a sense of responsibility for each other’s well-being. Just yesterday we talked about living in the now – not circumscribing what the future might bring – yet knowing we can count on each other, juxtaposing the two.

 

     And maybe, best of all, still being playful, liking each other, laughing, reading aloud, being romantic, trying new things, sharing a sense of joy with the friends we’re catching-up with and the new friends we’re making. Quentin, here from Chicago and camping alone, is applying to be a forest fire fighter. He believes it’s just a matter of time, percentages:  the youth of today “get it.” Eighty-four year old Liebe is not so sure. She’s still into rugged individualism being necessary to make it in the face of prejudice, a rigged system, and so much inequality.

 

     Count us as lucky. Yes, it takes some determination to stay in love – but what a wonderful thing to be determined about – and a lot easier with a roof over your head every night, sort of. Our combined retirement incomes are not enough to get a motel room every night. We’re counting on friends to put us up, and camping. The other night we thought we’d found a great place to camp on the beach – the sign said only $8 for the night, and the fee collector said, “It’s true – if you know how to put a tent up.” We drove “Hiawatha” (Bonnie’s Honda CRV) a half mile on the hard sand along the ocean looking for just the right spot, had a heck of a time getting “Big Daddy” (Clyde’s tent) to stay put in gale force winds, and laid our heads down to rest on “Nirvana” (our 3-fold memory foam bed) --- only to find out we’d pitched the tent in the middle of a dune buggy race track with races going most of the night. 

 

    But we still have our rose-colored glasses on and want to wish all our readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – with a special thanks to all who have put us up.

 

Love, Clyde & Bonnie