Ode to Cardiff

It's been 9 years that I have lived beside the Cardiff shores, breathing in pure sea air, sucking onshore flow, basking in balmy, palm tree breezes that make you think you somehow traveled to a tropical island. My life has been here...for 9 years. Residing in a one bed apartment, with a yard, and a view of blue sky and full moons. I will miss much about you Cardiff, but it is time and I must leave for now. But I will be back.

Things I will miss about Cardiff...
Walking to...
Pipes and the veggie scrambler with egg beaters
Shanty with the picture of the melancholy artist on the wall who reminds me of me
Seaside market - need I say more, my second home
Starbucks and the usual crowd
Walks to Glen Park with Paloma and its beautiful trees
Bull Taco and my special order California burrito with egg whites and the best ocean view dining in town
Rimels for a cool beer and a good look at the latest live catch
East Coast Pizza and the Artichoke pizza slices with Marinara and the dude like banter on a Saturday afternoon
Las Olas margaritas
Ki's quiet time reading with coffee in hand and looking out upon jumping dolphins
The Cardiff library
The Cardiff Post office

The beach...
Where I learned to surf that left at Tippers and exalted at my first stoke of going down the lane.
My naivety of braving five foot swell and getting pummeled as a beginner
My recent sunset summer walks alone down to Swamis and back
Ooooh the cool red tide which made the water streak with flourescent lightning
Walks on the beach with a pregnant wife
Walks on the beach with a newborn
Sand playing with a toddler
Wave dipping with a squealing Paloma
Walks with a packed stroller like I was a gypsy through the campground with families happy
Walks through the little garden that hugs the train tracks

I will miss the sound of the train
The full moons that streak through my front window at 3 in the morning, the calming glow of that moon shining in the cityless lights of a dark ocean sky
The lazy, balmy beautiful, quiet beach weekends where Cardiff just wants to lull you to sleep
The sound of the waves crashing in the distance when the swell is high and the wind is blowing onshore

Cardiff is the shangri-la of San Diego. Where things are still like they used to be 50 years ago. Where things are still quaint, where there is no major thoroughfare traffic, where there are no sidewalks so everyone walks in the street, where everyone knows or recognizes everyone else. Where all you ever need in your life is 2 blocks away