What a strange 4 weeks.

Today is March 29th. It was exactly 1 month ago today that I spent my last full day as a resident of Hawaii. A lot has changed in the world since then.

On Friday, February 28th after packing our POD the previous day, getting our rental ready to be inspected by the property manager, dropping off my car at the port for shipment, selling our moped and various other things we had to do prior to leaving the island, we finally settled into the Marriot Resort in Waikiki for 2 nights to relax before leaving to Los Angeles on March 1st.

The morning of the February 29th I walked around Waikiki in the morning reflecting on my time on the islands. I think there is misconception that I hated living in Hawaii. Nothing could be further from the truth. I loved living there. Did I find it challenging? Absolutely but that is why I loved it also. I was able to face some fears and issues by moving out there. It helped me grow. I needed that. I see that now more clearly. For 2019, this island was my home. I will always cherish that.

So why did I leave? Now only if I could move all my friends and family there then I could probably have stuck it out. The thing is Hawaii couldn’t replace the nagging feeling I had that I just simply missed the people that mean the world to me. I am so glad I was able to spend 14 months there and maybe one day I will return but for now I am glad to be back in California (especially now). Also, the job at UCSB was a great opportunity. I am glad I decided to do this.

When we got back on March 1st to LA the Coronavirus pandemic was still an issue that seemed far away but looming in the background. The first cases in Hawaii were starting to show up (Today they now have 122) and it was more and more starting to become topic around work. We had moved into our rental on March 7th. I went to Target to get some stuff for our new place. Things felt normal. No issues with getting toilet paper and paper towels. That first week after we moved in, things still felt kind of normal. We ate out, drove around a lot, went to wineries and breweries. The wife, dogs and I were settling into our new life in Santa Barbara. Well, that changed quickly. All of a sudden, at work, there was a need to move students and staff off campus. In the matter of a few days the once vibrant and energetic UCSB campus had turned into a ghost town. On top of all this we were selling our house in San Gabriel and were a week away from closing. I was so nervous that the buyer was going to back out due to the corona virus but on March 13th we officially closed. Whew!

I was planning to come down to LA to DJ and hang out with friends on March 15th. That of course didn’t happen. It was the weather at first that we cancelled but then the “shelter at home” orders came in. The moment I knew things were different forever was when Disneyland closed down. That is was a “Whoa” moment for me. As the world was quickly becoming a place I don’t recognize, I am still going into the office every day. Mainly because I don’t have a desk at home as all my furnishing and gear are still in the POD container on a boat in the middle of the Pacific (it will arrive on 04/10). My boss and I are forming a skeleton crew really. I pretty much self-isolate in my office. I am grateful for that. I need a little normalcy in my life right now and being able to go in helps provide that. Lucky for me I work less than 10 min from home.

Other than that, I am at home, like the rest of you. Watching Netflix (Tiger King, OMFG) and cooking more. We venture out to walk the dogs, get a little exercise by walking around and go to the grocery store when needed. Luckily Santa Barbara county is a bit sheltered from what is going on in LA and it hasn’t been as chaotic. Things have slowed to a halt but there are signs of life here and there and I am thankful for that. I was hoping for a different kind of homecoming but I am grateful I am still employed, still healthy and still hopeful. I know a lot of friends that have been hit hard with live music and filming being shut down. It is hard to watch what this is doing to entire industries and also to small business. I have been making it a focus to do what I can to help support small business during this time. They are especially being hit hard and if I can support with my dollars I will. I hope you do the same.

A pause in life can have benefits. Especially getting to appreciate the things around you.

April is around the corner now and I don’t see much changing for any of us in the near future although I do feel the next few weeks will tell us a lot more. I am trying to strike a balance of not being on Social Media a lot but also staying engaged with friends and family. I have been contacting people more directly now. Working on keeping my relationships intact as we all adapt to a new world. And honestly, there is too much misinformation going on out there. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but the times for picking political sides and conspiracy theories is not now. It is disheartening to see us facing a common enemy and yet still be so selfish and divided. I get it, people are scared, because it is a scaring fucking time right now. But don’t let that effect your humanity. What I find comfort in is that I am spending more time with my wife and my dogs. We are becoming stronger during this. I am find myself embracing the little things more. Looking at the ocean, snuggling with my dogs, breathing the fresh air and looking into my wife’s eyes. Things I should never take for granted are now front and center. We can get through this. We have got through worst as a people. Just don’t lose your humanity. Take care of yourself and those around you.

It has been an interesting 4 weeks! How about for you?