installment from the road

After a long drive up the coast with Karin, stopping every night to camp, we are at the McCarthy residence in Napa. I am here for one week before I head back east to continue pursuing information around this graduate school thing I have gotten into my head as the next thing I am doing. Before I plunge headlong into describing that process (which is mostly in my head), let me describe a little of our journey up the coast (which is real and has pictures to prove it).

We left the intensity of RLS/San Diego on the 29th of September, with a departure committee gathered in front of the Ideal Hotel. Karin was behind the wheel ( I have yet to get fully comfortable with the idea of driving), and we headed up the coast on the infamous highway 5 towards L. A with no intention of stopping there at all. Of course, as it probably does to many, Hollywoood Blvd seduced us off the highway. We did a little tour of the strip without getting out of the car, and marvelled at the big Hollywood sign as well the walk of stars. Both seemed much more accessible than either Karin or I had imagined, an iconic set of symbols amidst the ordnariness of daily commuter and gritty streets. Suprisingly, L.A on this quick visit left me with some desire to roll up for a weekend and check it out from an insiders perspective. Perhaps I'll call Afropunk James or someone else and make a weekend trip of it from San Diego.

After L.A came the affluent Santa Barbara, our scheduled stop for lunch and a stroll. We ended up in an Indian restaurant with a really good lunch special. The owner was chatty and curious, and shared his reason for living in Santa Barbara. It seemed pretty obvious, the town itself is situated in one of the most scenic spots along the southern and central California coast, is one hour away from L.A yet maintains its small town feel, has plenty of services and cultural activities, and seems a great place to retire or raise children. Of course, underneath the surface I suspect there is plenty of darkness in the way of marginalized populations, and a sizable homeless and transient population.