Time to Leave the Beach

[oregontocal]

Twelve – Time to Leave the Beach – January 8, 2009

The past month has been a wonderfully quiet, peaceful, much needed break with many long walks on the beach at both low and high tides and lots of time to think. I’ve found an amazing quantity and variety of shells I’ve never found before. I’ve watched two different kinds of pelicans as well as herons and gulls. I’ve become reasonably able to get along using Spanish, and haven’t used American money once during this time, becoming quite comfortable with pesos. I’ve met many wonderful people and have become aware of how much I have; I’m wealthy in so many ways, including financially, at least in comparison with things I’ve seen here. I’ve made a good friend in David, but now realize that relationship will need to stay at friends only as I can no longer handle or put up with alcoholism. I went through too much grief with Mike. This has been an excellent time to get a good start in finally learning that I have a choice in how far a relationship goes. Right now any kind of relationship would be on the rebound and not a good idea for anyone.

It’s time to leave the beach and the aloneness for a while, to be around people again, to have access to internet without having to drive into town each time to use it. Perhaps I’m hooked on it. However, it’s been a constant source of information and communication for so many years that withdrawal is impossible. I’ve made too many friends through email and Facebook and feel it’s important to keep in touch with them.

I now know that staying here in San Felipe for a month instead of continuing on with Beth and Jean was the right thing to do, for me, at this time. I’ll always appreciate their invitation, and traveling all the way down to the tip of Baja and back would have been fun. However, I needed the time alone more. So, perhaps another time.

This time at the beach has helped me get over the worst of my disappointment with the ending of a relationship, although it still hurts whenever I think too much about it. This has been a time of realizing I still love and miss him very much, no matter what, and probably always will. I know the current recommendation is to make a clean break when a relationship ends. However, I am unable to do that, at least not right now.

We’re leaving here Monday morning to drive across the border and up to Blythe for the Bluegrass Festival next weekend. David would like to stay at the campground in Blythe for a month and then return here. I’ll most likely be there two weeks before heading up to the Desert Tower to stay until leaving for Kanab the end of March. My very good friends Fran and Rich will also be returning to Parry Lodge this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing them again so much.

I’m learning that things usually work out the way they’re supposed to, as much as I might disagree with how that goes. That’s not to say that some things aren’t hard to deal with, though.

San Felipe has been a wonderful experience, one I'll repeat.

[Nasoosie]

Chris, what a fortunate decision you made to stay with David for a while, to make sure of what you needed to know. You are a very wise woman, recognizing what you do not want to do any more, but trying things out. I am very proud of you for the recognition of what's right and good for you!

I am so sorry that it's been such a struggle to get over your last relationship, but I know, as you have said, that 'no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.' (Quote from Desiderata----one of my all-time favorite pieces of writing.)

Keep in touch with us, and share all those neat photos you have been gathering! Have a wonderful voyage from here on, too.

[Cedar518]

Re: Soosie's post.... well,..... I'll just say "I second that" Safe travels, Chris!

[OutandAbout]

X3 sounds like this month of " beach time" was exactly what you needed to sort through things and have come to good decisions for yourself. Safe travels. Linda

[Getupngo]

A month of decompression on the beach sounds like the right decision. And how wise of you, when life once again offered you the same challenge (an alcoholic), to say, "no thanks!" That's HUGE growth.

Yaaaay CHRIS!!

[avalen]

good for you to get things sorted out, I think your month on the beach was just
what you needed.

[JanetA]

I did my time w/a drunk, so I ditto the others when I say WISE GIRL!!!


TC and happy/safe travels


Janet

[AlmostThere]

Chris, I'm glad you are listening to your head in this and looking out for #1.

[oregontocal]

And after 265 miles today, including an interesting experience crossing the border, we're now set up at Mayflower County Park in Blythe, CA. Decided to leave San Felipe today instead of tomorrow to be sure of getting a spot here. The Bluegrass Festival is this coming weekend, as are all the things going on in Quartzsite, across the border into Arizona. As it was, there were only 40 spots left here. But, we've got great sites, in the back again, looking west (all those gorgeous sunsets)! Many of the same people from a month ago are still here and asked me all about my trip to Mexico. Told them I loved San Felipe so much I decided to stick around there for a month.

The border crossing? Well, I couldn't figure out the directions to the border in Mexicali and turned down a wrong street. Couldn't turn around as the street was too crowded, ended up on a one-way street going the same direction as the lines to the border. However, I turned into the wrong lane and couldn't get out. Didn't know it was the "Special" lane until we got to the border. Apparently it was for people with special passes. We had to get a "secondary inspection," which included opening everything outside, including the hood, and having Border Patrol snoop around everywhere, inside and outside. Now, we'd already gone through all that on an inspection halfway from San Felipe by the federales. Anyway, both David and I began feeling like crooks just for accidentally getting into the wrong lane. Finally were able to leave and hightailed it up to Wal-Mart in Brawley to get a refund of the core charges on my new batteries and eat lunch at Subway, decompressing a little. After that, the trip of 80 miles into Blythe was a piece of cake.

And, after a month of only water hookups, having electricity again is heaven. But now I know I could probably boondock for quite a while, especially with the new batteries.

[snowball]

your not too far away may have to wonder over and visit...Kerry will be here as well in a few days
sorry you had that problem at the border they do have a way of making a person wonder
am I a crook?
enjoy y our self there how long will you be there
sheila

[dcricket]

Chris, glad to hear you are doing well. You are wise in your decisions and I'm sure you know everything/every choice is made for a reason and sometimes the reason isn't revealed to us immediately...I know things will work out for you and you have the strength to get through the tough times. While in Blythe are you planning on going over to visit the gals in Q? Take care and safe travels.