It's a Bittersweet Goodbye

Well, we've only got 32 more days here in Monterey.

For those of you who know me you know how much I miss Utah. I never thought I would miss home as much as I do. I miss my family and my friends and oddly enough I miss the mountains. I have been ready to move home since about.. well I guess my short trip back to Utah in August (I only moved here July 1st) but now that the time has come to move home I am feeling a little bittersweet about the whole thing.

And here's why:

This place is beautiful. It's January, there's no snow and it's a comfortable 65 degrees outside. I can wear short sleeves and dresses without needing to bundle up. I can go to the beach whenever I want because it's about 2 miles from my back door and we have an amazing view from our back window.

Monterey is such an artsy and cultured city. There is a farmers market every Tuesday and people speak every language you can think of, mostly because of the language school here.

There are farms everywhere just outside of Monterey that sell fresh and delicious produce. They have little stands that you can just pull of the road and buy whatever is in season for very cheap.

The beach is amazing and I feel so spoiled to be able to go whenever I want. Monterey Bay is full of wildlife and we have seen dolphins, sea lions and otters. The water is so cold I can't imagine ever swimming in it; especially since the bay is full of great white sharks; but it is so beautiful and there is something so amazing about laying down a blanket, getting bundled up in a sweatshirt and watching the waves roll in. We have taken walks along the beach and around the bay, built castles in the sand and dipped our toes in the water.

There is fisherman's wharf, full of sailboats and amazing restaurants.

There is Cannery Row full of shops and home of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

  

Then there is Carmel. Carmel may be one of my most favorite places and I will miss going there whenever I want. There are adorable (and very expensive) shops that line the main street. There are artists who set up their easels on the sidewalks and you can smell the oil paints when you walk by. There are art galleries every where and I would be at home and happy there forever. There are beautiful views and amazing houses.

We have had the opportunity to visit San Fransisco, Big Sur and a redwood forest.

We have spent holidays here and had friends and family come to visit.

All in all our time has been well spent here and although I am excited to get home I am sad to leave this amazing place. I always think to myself when in a place other then home that I may never have the opportunity to pass this way again so I try to see as much and do as much in that place as I can. I think I have done that here and even though I will miss Monterey and all it has to offer, I can look back and say I didn't miss anything, I saw all that I could, met some great people, made so many memories and took more pictures then I should have. I think that makes it one pretty amazing adventure!