WEEK ONE: Senses

WEEK ONE: Senses

• What did I see? I went to a small island village called Balboa. I love this place for its quaint beach cottages, owner run retail all located right on the ocean. I went early to “avoid” the usual congestion. But it was shockingly busy for an early morning. Lots of car traffic and people walking. But what I really saw was community. Neighbors talking to each other, families and friends getting in a morning walk and visit. It was cloudy but the energy was electric.
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• What did I hear?  Cars, horns (racing for parking spots), lots of chatter, the ocean, construction from renovations, people using hoses to water their gardens. People saying hello (which is actually quite rare in Southern California).
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• What did I smell? The bakeries and juice bars on the main drag were in high gear getting ready for the day. The distinct umami smell of the ocean. 
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• What physical sensations did I experience? Energy, happiness, peppiness.
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• What did I notice that I hadn’t noticed before (if familiar path)? I experienced the people who live on Balboa as I went off the main drag into the housing area. Otherwise it had previously been just a cute little beach village, enjoyable for a stroll and a snack.
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• What are some things I always seem to notice (if familiar path)? The local owned retailers and restaurants. The crowded streets. The tourists. The lack of parking.
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• What else did I notice? The scramble of residents to move their cars by 8am to allow the street cleaners to come through, which added an extra layer of mayhem on a tiny island short on parking spots.