Whale watching and the benefits of living where people go on vacation or business trips

A couple weeks ago, we heard from some friends we met in Guam that they were going to be coming to San Diego. Happily, our weekend was relatively open. We were going to join them for a day at the beach, but because the friends that they were visiting (to go rock climbing with at Joshua Tree NP), had free tickets to go whale watching, we joined them for a three hour tour around the bay and beyond.  The friends had plenty of tickets because they had purchased 35 of them for their family reunion (at a great price), but hadn't seen any whales, so the tour company gave them tickets to come again. Our lucky day!

Our older kids were busy and didn't come, and having seen whales before, weren't too disappointed.  We met this family because we were both homeschooling in Guam, and our girls really got along well together. They aren't military, but he works for the government. The wife and I also did a lot of long distance runs together when I was marathon training. They are an outdoorsy Mormon family - running, hiking, rock climbing, camping are all regular activities for them. The dad and oldest son went to Mt. Everest from Guam, they traveled to Mexico in the summer, and the mom and dad last spring went to France and spent a week hiking Mont Blanc. But they aren't boastful about any of that. Their trips are focused less on checking off a bucket list than on spending time together as a family enjoying the world. And they are a lot of fun to talk to and spend time with - the kind of family you can easily spend a day with even though you haven't seen them for several years because you share similar interests and values and like to talk.

So we had a great time talking on a boat with them and their friends, who were equally friendly and interesting people.  And we did see whales - four or five grey whales on their migratory path along the west coast.

Also part of the day's fun was watching the three year old make friends with the other family's three year old.  How lovely it is to be the age when you can make a new best friend in fifteen minutes!

The girls also easily dropped back into their friendship.  I wish we lived closer because I know they would have a great time together, and I wouldn't have any of the reservations I sometimes have with other friends about what their family allows their kids to do.

We also passed this scenic sailing ship, which had a group of nuns in what looked like Dominican habits out enjoying the frolicking of the whales also. 

Whale watching was a wonderful way to continue the feeling of being on vacation after school had returned to session after Christmas break. One of the benefits of living where we do is that we frequently have friends and family show up to visit because they are on vacation or a business trip. Last weekend we were joined by the cousins who live just three hours north who came down to watch Hamilton.  The San Diego show was much more affordable than the LA show, but when it comes to measuring all the things we want to do and how much, going to it fell below a number of other things on our list. But we were happy to host the cousins for a night, and even happier that they were willing to take our almost 18 year old for a special birthday outing.  

The show goers came home singing and raving about the lyrics and performance.  Their enthusiasm made me question whether or not we should have reorganized our priorities and gone with them. At least we can listen online. I do love a live show.

Another funny coincidence: We were sitting with the cousins outside the coffee shop on the main drag of our town enjoying Sunday afternoon with a cafe, when my husband says, "That looks like a H____ kid," naming a family we knew from Virginia years ago.  My response: "No, they live in Texas." (not to mention the fact we haven't seen them in several years when this girl was in elementary school). But sure enough, a minute later, here comes the whole family! So we have an impromptu reunion in front of the coffee shop. They were here for the husband's business trip. He used to be in the same Navy community as my husband, but he recently retired.  We didn't think to take a photo, but we did have a great chat.  Just another perk.