So, What do you do in California?

Naomi and I often wonder: "What have we done today? How do we spend our time when we're in California?" It seems like the days pass and we have no clue about where it went. It is a little embarrassing. It becomes especially embarrassing when others also ask: "How do you spend your time in California?", and we have no good answer. So, I'm going to spend some time trying to answer that question and it may still turn out to be rather embarrassing.

First, maybe as a general parameter, we come to California basically to see our daughter and grandchildren, and to escape the cold-dark-icy Adirondack winter for a while. We stay in the Inn pictured at the right. It is an old Victorian home built by a real estate developer in the late 19th century.

We've been waking about 8am, which is late for us and retiring at about Midnight. Breakfast, morning ablutions, and reading the news on the internet take until about 10:30, so this is done in a very leisurely fashion. We both find this an irritating waste of the morning, but don't seem to be able to change. I guess we should learn to like it. If we are going to do it, then we should do it with kavanah. This means that we should do it with intent and ownership and appreciate it for what it is.
Somewhere around 10:30 we start answering emails and making phone calls to maintain our relationships and obligations with the world. This means: Communicating with friends; coordinating volunteer efforts; arranging appointments; paying bills; and, making plans for the day. We might squeeze in some reading of books and periodicals.
By about noon we are ready to make our first foray into the outdoor world. Usually, the temperature has gotten up into the 50s or low 60s by that time and it is relatively pleasant outdoors. We might walk the four blocks to downtown on Pacific Ave. That's just past the russet tree in the center background of this picture taken from the front door of our Inn. If you 'click' on the picture it will enlarge and you can see a building at the end of the street that is on Pacific Ave. There is a Trader Joe's and a New Leaf organic food store within two blocks of that building. We do some light grocery shopping and/or get a 'cuppa coffee', or pick up a book at the bookstore, etc. Mostly this is an excuse to get out of the house and get the blood flowing. These morning and afternoon activities Naomi and I often do separately although we almost always eat lunch together.

Around 1:30 or 2pm we return and prepare and eat lunch in the communal kitchen. After that I might take a nap (Naomi would never take a nap, and the picture of me on the bed is posed!) or go for a little hike in one of the really beautiful state parks in the immediate area. This could be along the ocean or up in the hills. Both settings are quite spectacular with wide views of mountains and ocean and hold huge trees and abundant wildlife. The afternoon could also be spent reading in our room and/or continuing email correspondence and personal business. We usually eat dinner with Micah and the family and spend several evening hours with them. We might go with the family to see a movie or walk along the ocean. Sometimes we eat out for lunch or dinner - there are lots of good restaurants of all types in the area. Tonight Naomi and I are going to eat at a small restaurant featuring a jazz pianist.
We usually return to the Hinds house by 10 or 11 and read some and retire for the night.

Here are a couple of street scenes from Pacific Ave. It is a very lively place with lots of street performers, sculptures, eccentrically dressed people, etc. Enlarge the pictures to see more detail.
I just took them today on our way to Trader Joe's.