I listened and it was perfect – 47/100

On the way back from therapy, I ask myself what I’m going to do the rest of the day. Our session was earlier than usual so I had a few hours of the remaining morning and the afternoon to myself.

Immediately, the answer I got back – San Diego.

Hmm. Okay. I decide yes. I’m down. I head home, the way I was going anyway, to pack some food and a jacket.

Then I’m off, back to the same freeway entrance that I left earlier for therapy. I have my windows down, music playing, the sun on my left arm which sticks out with my hand open and reaching for wind.

I feel solid. I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I’m just listening to the voice. San Diego.

Okay, I can do that. Well, at first, I ponder hitting up Oceanside instead, since it’s closer. But I figure, if it was supposed to be Oceanside, I would have heard Oceanside lol.

Sweet, so I feel set.

But I guess a lot of other people have San Diego (or probably Mexico) on their minds. Because there’s a shit ton of traffic. About 2.5 hours worth. And still I don’t budge. I just keep dancing and singing and driving.

As I near San Diego, I suddenly ask myself, where the hell am I going exactly? Hahah. I open Yelp and the first thing that pops into my mind is – I want a drink and I want an ocean view. A rooftop bar.

I Yelp rooftop bar and the first one I click on has exactly what I want. I can see myself there. Got it.

I get to the area and… I can tell it’s the touristy part of San Diego I never explored. There are a million and one cars and not enough parking spots. I skip the parking lot initially and head down the residential area. No luck.

I head back to the parking lot and it doesn’t seem promising. Too much demand. No supply. But I go in – I made it this far, right?

I’m still listening to music and chilling. It is what it is. If I don’t find a spot, I’m cool with heading back up. The drive was enough. I decide I’ll make one full circle and then leave. Something tells me to go down the second to last aisle, so I do.

Bam, I see someone slip into his car… and leave. Mine, all mine. That felt so damn good.

I walk through the lot, head up the stairs, and get myself the best seat at the bar. I’m right in between the bar and the ocean. I’m immediately greeted by a server and the bartender.

It’s good vibes all around. The bartender seems to take an interest in me and we strike up a conversation. And it almost feels like I came down to SD for this conversation, for this moment of connection with this human being.

He talks a little about his history, where he’s been, how he chooses to live and work. He seems very self-aware of himself and his place in the world, that he is part of something greater. And it is so good to hear. He seems so in touch with himself. I loved it.

We chatted the whole time – the only downside was, I had to be back in town by 6 and the drive was another 2 hours up the 5 freeway. We exchanged phone numbers and became Facebook friends. I said my goodbye, and he came around the bar to give me a hug.

The drive up was more calm but so satisfying. I don’t know what the hell happened that my day included a trip to San Diego, but it was pretty much perfect. From the inception of the idea, the drive, the traffic, the shitshow of a parking situation, the drinks, the conversation, the weather, the view…

It was what I wanted. It was what I needed. It’s almost as if the universe knows.