Growing up I always heard how amazing and beautiful San Diego was from my dad. After Vietnam, he was stationed there for 2 years and fell in love. So, when I got the chance to go, shortly after his passing – I jumped!

The second I landed dad was there, in spirit, when I saw the marine base on the runway. I knew that second that I would love this city.

Fast forward two years later and two more trips to San Diego and I love it even more now than I did then. I feel this connection with my dad when I am there and this urge to explore more.

This past week I spent 8 days in San Diego producing a user conference for the tech company I work for. After the conference ended – which was a great success despite the unusual rain – I decided to stay an extra few days to venture and relax!

I met up with my dear friend and took in a comedy show, walked the San Diego Zoo and saw all the beautiful animals, spent a day with my colleague and friend pampering ourselves and just fell more in love with the city, it’s people, food and breathtaking coastline.

While sipping hot cocoa in a cute cafe during a rainstorm, I started thinking “gosh, I could live here”. Back and forth I went through the pros and cons: pros: sunshine, mountains, ocean, warmth, dads fav city, new experiences and friends to make, great job market, that coastline cons: far from my family and my best friends plus there is a part of me not ready to give up on NYC and the one who has my heart. I always had many pros but, the cons I had were definitely hard to swallow. My family and friends mean everything to me but, I need to mean something to me too and so does my happiness.

After a wonderful week, on Monday I flew back home but, the thought of spending more time in San Diego was constantly on my mind.

After once again going over pros and cons and remembering I work remotely and am really great at my job (confidence is key) – I took a risk and did it.

No, I did not pack up and move. I’m not that spontaneous. However, on March 30th I will be heading to San Diego to spend 21 days living in an Airbnb. This is the best way to really see what it would be like to live and work there and if my love is a temporary/only when traveling feeling or deep and permanent.

I invite you to follow me on my journey where I hope to learn things about myself I didn’t know, explore areas of the city I’ve never seen, make memories with my friends and meet new ones, enjoy every bit of sunshine AND go to Disneyland!

For my friends and family back East – it’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon! Y’all still have my heart.

Happy planning!

XoXo,

S.A.S

P.S. I’ll leave you with a pic of this cutie!