Missing the Ocean

I guess it's seasonal, but once it gets nice and warm out and the sky is sunny and blue again, I want to go to the beach. Now, I know there's a perfectly good beach 2 miles away.... I could walk there, for Christ's sake. But Lake Michigan is a LAKE... and it smells wrong. And this bothers me. It's not quite right. I miss the ocean, the smell and taste of wet salt in the air, the sand beaten to fine sugar by the endless cycle of waves. I miss kelp for fuck's sake!

I think really, that--despite this being my second day off in a row(!)--I need an honest-to-gawd vacation. Something exotic and different... and oceany. Hawaii, Guam, Australia, New Zealand. I want to say, "Fuck Hats! I'm outta here!" And I want to have the financial wherewithall to do just that.



We are going to California for Tom and Diane's wedding at the end of the month but... we're going to rush into town, Bil will rush around with groomsman stuff, I will grab an afternoon to see my folks, we'll go to the wedding, we'll party and drink while there, we'll get up the next morning and drive all the way to Sacramento to visit his grandparents and sister, we'll be there for like 2 days, and then we're back in Chicago. Not exactly the most relaxing trip ever. And it's not like I don't want to see everyone or anything, but I would absolutely love to just take a trip to somewhere new. I want to have time to explore, to hike and swim and be outside and watch sunsets (and sunrises when I happen to still be awake) and enjoy local color and experience SOMETHING NEW... Gah.

I want to go explore Italy, and Greece, and Japan, and Thailand, and ALASKA! ....sigh..... I love Chicago, please don't get me wrong, but I want to get out and see the world some, too.

I know what's really going on here: I have lived in the same city for almost 2 years. I have lived in the same apartment for almost 1 of those years. The last time I lived in one place for so long was when I lived --ok, scratch that... I can't remember the last time I lived continuously in one domicile for this long (11 months!).

Shall we examine my living habits a bit? Prior to here: Albany Park, Chicago-10 months; transitional period (New York to Boston to Chicago bounce)-2 weeks; Loch Sheldrake, New York-almost 2 months; Somerville, Massachusetts-10 months; Whitefield, New Hampshire-3 months; Homeless cross-country trek-1 week; house on Spruce Street, Riverside, California-10 months; studio apartment on Spruce Street, Riverside, California-9 months; crappy apartment in Oak Park Apartment complex with a dodgy lodger who shall not be named (AKA "Asshole", for these and other purposes) and meth lab neighbors, Riverside, California-9 months; sketchy room in school librarian's cat-filled abode, Santa Rose, California-3 months; Bannockburn apartment (with no door on my bedroom), Riverside, California-9 months; parents' house for summer after freshman year of college-3 months; Aberdeen and Inverness Dormitories, Riverside, California-9 months; parents' house (sometimes just Mom's house)-14 years; parents' old house, Woodland Hills, California-4 years.

Okay, so the last time I lived in one place for longer than 11 months was 8 years ago, before I went to college. Jesus. No wonder my feet are getting itchy with anticipation of a summertime move. Sheesh.

The thing is that I like where I live; I like the neighbors, the area, the location, the place itself and the price. I hope that the rent doesn't skyrocket next month when the lease is up, because I really don't want to move... I just want a vacation. Somewhere with an ocean. Mmmmm....



That is all.