Officially Homeless

As we embarked on our journey back to the mainland, Roby and I looked at each other and realized we were homeless. Where were we to tell people we lived. How do we explain our story. We have a car with Hawaii license plates, an Arizona mailing address but no house to live in anywhere. So we decided to make up a story because the real one would take too long and be too confusing because we are not even really sure of what it is. We are keeping it simple. We are from Kauai and we are retired (sounds much better than unemployed) and travelling the world. A friend told us that once you get the "red dirt" on your feet it gets into your soul and you are a Kauaian forever. Our Toyota truck will forever be a Kauaian!!!

Our first leg of the radical sabbatical was more than we could have asked for and if the rest of the trip goes halfway as well we are in for a treat. Part of our goal is to find our next "Kauai". It is going to be much more difficult than anticipated. We visited four places in California and at each one we said, "we could live here." But, we were able to at least rank them. First is Del Mar. Perfectly located and a perfectly planned community and not too much smog. Not to mention we have friends there. Our buddies Kendall and Christine showed us the town. First night an awesome concert at a great bar called Belly Up in Solana Beach. We got to see "English Beat" and dinner at a great mexican restuarant. A real night out!! (sorry Brenda, the English Beat was just a bit better than the "used car salesman band" at Joe's) We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend with them and it only solidified our belief that friends will always be friends regardless of how far apart you are.

Next on our list of possible new homes is Santa Barbara. Do I need to say anything else. Then it was a tie between Pasadena and Pacific Palisades. Both have great things to offer but the smog is a bit too much for us so you would have to "twist" our arms a bit to get us to live there. (okay only a little). Pasadena such a cool town. You do not even feel like you are in LA and we had a great host and hostess. Our friend Bryan from Kauai who now lives in Wyoming was going to be in LA at the same time. What a coincidence that his Jeep which had been on Kauai for over a year and half was going to be on the same barge as our truck so we decided to have a rendevous in LA. Even better, his mom lives in Pasadena so she opened her home to us for a few days. She lives in a great little neighborhood in La Canada where you can actually walk on the streets and not get run over or break an ankle. We truly appreciated her opening her home and "refrigerator" to us. Missy you are the best!!

Final destination was Pacific Palisades/Malibu area. Again, must we say anything else. My good friend Gabi and her husband and children live in the area so we were able to spend an evening with them and see their newly remodeled home.

Throughout our time in California we continually got subliminal messages tugging us back to Hawaii. Pictures of Dave Kalama in Nordstrom advertisements, a Hawaiian island bumper sticker, a radio station giving away a free trip to Hawaii and at the "Diners, Drive-in and Dive" pizza restaurant in San Diego some guy was wearing a Koloa Fish Market t-shirt. Kauai will be with us forever.

Oh-just another goal of ours on the trip is to try and stop at as many of the Food Networks Diners, Drive-ins and Dives across the United States. For those going to San Diego-Pizzeria Luigi near the gaslamp district not in it but near it in the hood, definitely worth trying. You know me, always need to have goals!!