Leaving LAND (San Diego, CA) & Embarking

Our adventure begin today after a relaxing morning learning more about our hotel's (US Grant) history and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation that lived here and their mission to protect their people through self-sufficiency and responsible governance (it was very difficult in the 1950-60's), while having a positive impact on our community and finally earning their rightful place beginning in the late 1970'-80's. They have not only preserved their culture but have helped the San Diego region over the years thrive and grow as they diversified in their businesses. They share their services as well as their obvious gaming entertainment to the San Diego County community. Although they are native to America and have had different challenges, I felt I was learning about a very similar evolution to the Jews (and other immigrants) in this Country, trying to balance assimilation and acculturation that my grandparents/parents and we are faced with every day. We stopped at a unique Starbucks for breakfast (all self-serve, no paying, all pre-ordered online).

We embarked on the Oceania VISTA and it was like going back to an old neighborhood and having a reunion of old friends there. Different from a high school/college reunion where all you talk about are the "good old times" and probably realizing you no longer have anything in common with these school-year childhood friends, at this reunion, we saw friends that we met just 3 years ago. We had traveled to 93 incredible places with them for 6 months and had uncountable stories to remember and share. Some of these people we have been in touch with and become very good friends and its fun to be with them again with but there were 20+ friends that we had not been since the day we got off our 6 month adventure and left San Francisco in June 2023. We now were greeted as if we saw them yesterday but we all have many new stories and life perspectives of ourselves to share. Of course, everyones first question was if we were still HOMELESS and about our weight loss. Once we covered off on those topics we learned so much more from these same people that on the first trip were not "close friends" but now we expect since we are re-connected we will immediately be "closer". BTW, there are so many crew and officers we know here (or indirectly know) that gives another dimension to this return to Around the World.

AND A WONDERFUL SURPRISE! Karen gave me an engraved COMPASS to mark our adventure and my milestone birthday ... I will be 7-0 on this trip!!!

AND THIS WAS DAY ONE!Leggi altro