Day 48 of Phase 3 - California Covid spike- Beaches are open again

Ventura Beach - there are no rocks on the other side of the pier…

Sunday. 7/12/20.

7:30-8:00 - I’m up and I go downstairs to take out the dog. Cheese. Then, I straighten the kitchen and make sure my lunch is packed.

8:00-10:00 - Shower. Bathing suit. Light make-up. I tidy my room and make sure I have everything for the beach.

10:00-11:00 - B. arrives and we drive to Ventura beach. B. knows right where to go and we park for $10. I’m not familiar with this section of the beach, but it’s right near public restrooms - which are actually open! - and close to the sand/ocean. I’m so pleasantly surprised!

L. texts that she and R. are having breakfast at Scarlet Begonias.

11:00-4:30 - B. and I have our beach get-aways down to a science and it only takes us ONE trip from the car to the sand to set up camp. B. has two Tommy Bahama collapsible beach chairs - not the flimsy ones - these are sturdy and really nice. He also has a Tommy Bahama beach umbrella. We bring our own food and alcohol in one ice chest and one insulated lunch bag. The cooler serves as a mini-table between the deck chairs that we can place food items on. I have a large beach bag with extra clothes, a beach blanket, sun screen, my towel, and a book. B. has his own beach bag. My mini back-pack is my purse and is with me wherever I go. It has my wallet, hand sanitizer, chap stick, extra masks, Ipad, ear pods, and other miscellaneous items. ONE trip, people!!! to bring all that stuff to the sand.

We find a spot and settle in - ten minutes tops and everything is arranged. I told you, we have it down to a science and we don’t leave for the next five hours. We might as well be camping! It’s 105 degrees in Santa Clarita and 71 degrees here. The beach is pretty empty and it’s easy to social distance. B. goes in the ocean twice - I sit on my beach blanket and read Notes on a Silencing. I eat the breakfast that I brought and, later, B. and I eat our respective lunches and drink throughout the day. If this is retirement, I’m all in!

Meanwhile, in SB, L. and R. have breakfast outside then head to the beach in ‘Carp.’ L. said it was almost impossible to park and the beach was so packed, people were on top of each other - no social distancing and no masking. R., who is not an avid beach goer like L. and I, is so unnerved by this, they have to leave. He is shocked that nobody is masking and proclaims that the beach goers “are not acting responsibly.” :-) No kidding. I really like R.

The two of them then head to Ventura at the exact same time B. and I are in Ventura, only they choose, instead, to frequent disgusting thrift shops and a run-down coffee house. Indoors…gross.

4:30-6:00 - B. and I call it and drive to his house.

6:00-8:00 - B. gives me a slice of pizza and we finish season 1 of the the series he bought - Search Party - from HBO Max in time to cancel the subscription. The last episode takes an incredible turn and I’m clairvoyant enough to predict that the remaining seasons are going to suck. He cancels the subscription then takes me home.

8:30 -10:30 - L. and I are both home so we watch Love After Lock-up and scream at the TV.

10:30 - 11:30 - Night time ritual. Bed.