happy one year sandan-versary to me!

well todays the day! it marks the one year anniversary of me moving out to this wonderful magical paradise, San Diego! i had been out here a couple of times before i moved out here and mostly fell in love with the weather and of course the close proximity of the ocean. in those few days that i had been here, it must have simply made my should happy and it has for this whole past year. i finished my week long drive out here one year ago per my Facebook status, "i made it. kind of want to cry from exhaustion, but i made it". I pulled into my new apartment complex with my dog and my fully packed car hoping to start a new life. i lived on an air mattress holding my breath waiting for my belongings from my old life to arrive. i made my first place out hera a kind of home before deciding that i needed to be closer to the beach and making that my real home. i clinged to lifelong friends, friends from another chapter of my life, and made tons of new ones. somehow...despite it all... i made a new life for myself, one that makes me very happy. i even found love again. thank you san diego. thank you for making me realize that i could live again. and that i could love again. and of course for never-ending 70 degree and sunny days and daily sunsets that never ever look the same!

a few of my favorite moments from the past year...

 waiting for our stuff to arrive... but i guess really we don't need that much stuff

 making time to relax though

 first visitor! a fellow widow from chicago to attend Widow Camp

 lila loving the shade

 one of many

second group of visitors! college bests in old town

 opening day in del mar betting on "this one's for mel"

 one of our first of many hikes up cowles mountain to enjoy the view of our new city

 gotta do yoga by the sea

 and take advantage of the year round perfect weather with a garden

 love going to see the padres at petco!

mom's first visit and my first visit to balboa park

 auzzie friend visiting to celebrate matt's friend's nuptials in SD

 another OB sunset

 more guests! first wine tasting in temecula

and more yoga by the sea with my auntie

 first NFL game!

full moon hike on mt. laguna

 hiking with lila to a "waterfall" SD style

 lila's halloween costume for all the children of the 80's

 lifelong bestie and i celebrating matt's birthday with some music he would think i was crazy for listening to!

 lots of baths with lots of trips to the beach

 we loved chilling our first balcony overlooking the trolley

another hike to the top of mt. woodson

 pearl jam concert!

 first thanksgiving away from home in big bear with new friends!

 who knew the desert was freezing! december in joshua tree

our first cali christmas with our first real tree

see real real christmas trees in idyllwld

mom's christmas visit... no day after sales for us!

 more tasting in temecula

 watching the pack with friends!

 ringing in the new year

 moving out

to the beach

making it feel like home

 but still getting stuck every once in awhile

 camping and yoga in the desert

 catalina island

 10 mile hike across the island

 Zumba Convention with the best roomie ever!

 enjoying a sunset beer

 picnicking

 still doing yoga

and still watching sunsets

 my wonderful Zumba class

 neighborly walks to the beach

 getting a tattoo in honor of the two year sadiversary of matt's death

 st. patty's day SD style

 easter SD style

 finding a place to teach yoga

 more mountain hikes with friends

half marathon relay!

it was so fun looking back on all the amazing adventures the past year has given me...

and i can't wait to see what the next year holds...

namaste San Diego