Bohemian Beach Bum to Upper Class Fancy-Pants Neighborhood
San Diego to La Jolla Contract Renewal
Previous stories outlined my first 13.5 week contract in San Diego. The first was I Found My Favorite, For Now. Shortly after writing that story, my wish came true to extend my contract in San Diego but I needed to find new housing. The details for that situation are included in Dr. Seuss, I'm on my Way. If you need to review the deets to refresh or acclimate to those situations just click on the links in this paragraph.
Time waits for no one, not even a travel nurse - the move out date for my Ocean Beach (OB) living arrived. While I really enjoyed living in OB, the aura changed the last week or so while there. If you recall, the landlord had told all of us that there was summer construction pending and that we all had to move out by a certain date. Low and behold a new couple moved in the week we were all moving out. Imagine that?!?! (New England sarcasm right there….).
Ninja and I said “see ya later” to our daily walks to dog beach where she loved to vivaciously run, walk, jump around the enormous sandy beach area off leash. She will miss jumping in the Pacific Ocean and enjoying the cool salt water.
I said goodbye to the bike trail which I rode frequently on either side of the San Diego river. We had a dreamy run at Ocean Beach.
What this girl will not miss, is the traffic after work. Typical 40-50 minute-ish ride home for 12 miles on interstate 5. Off rush hour time to travel the same geographical area is 12-15 minutes. Bye bye to that!
You also saw in the previous post Jumping off a Cliff that my friend Laura was visiting from Austin. Moving day was during our last weekend of vacation. I'm not gonna lie. I was very happy that she was able to help Ninja and me move. I have been doing this for three years but it's still just a pain in the ass to pack everything up, place it accurately in Blue Velvet to accommodate one trip, unload it and determine where I will be placing/storing everything in my new digs. All part of the travel nurse process, but it was nice to have some assistance and company this go round.
The new temporary housing is in La Jolla and it is a first floor “Junior” condo. Kind of like a studio. It has a private and secluded patio, 2 pools, a small gym and all the necessities I seek. You guessed it, dishwasher and laundry. Damn I thoroughly missed not having a dishwasher while at Ocean Beach!! I digress.
The condo is only a two mile drive to the hospital. You know what that means. I can sleep a bit later in the morning. I also get home “at the drop of a hat” which I am beyond pleased about. Sitting in traffic consistently is a major pet peeve of mine. So much life gets wasted in that situation. Now I am able to take Ninja on a long walk after work and then hit the gym and still be home to start relaxing at a decent time. Ahhhh, change is good.
The biggest hurrah about this move is across the street. There is a very well landscaped hillside with all of my favorite places to shop and eat on the other side. What?!?! Everything is walking distance? I will now be the lady walking the sidewalk with empty grocery bags on the way up the hill and full grocery bags on the way down the hill back home. I’ll also be seen walking with my favorite “trenta” sized cup of my favorite iced tea. The cookies at my favorite cookie place, which will remain nameless, will still be hidden from sight. I wouldn’t want anyone to take them (I mean it) from me while I’m getting my steps in. Already loving it here in La Jolla.