A Few Good Days on the Monterey Peninsula

Some days, you don’t need much of a plan. Just the ocean, family, and time to slow down.

Liz and I recently headed up the coast to spend a few days with our son Andrew, our daughter-in-law Kanoe, and our grandson Kainalu. They live in the Pebble Beach area, which gives us a pretty good reason to visit. Although, honestly, the grandson would get us there regardless of the scenery.

We spent time along the rocky shores of Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, watching waves crash against the rocks. Deer wandered through the neighborhood. Down at Monterey Harbor, we walked along the waterfront and watched the boats.

Nothing complicated. Nothing we needed a reservation for. Just time together.

There’s something I appreciate about being near the ocean. I can stand there watching the same stretch of water for a long time. Each wave gives me a reason to stay a little longer.

In Carmel, we wandered through the little shops and stopped at a wonderful stationery store. That turned into one of my favorite stops.

I came home with paper, envelopes, and a new notebook. I’ve been getting more interested in writing things down by hand—keeping a journal, collecting ideas, and saving passages I want to remember. The notebook is becoming a commonplace book: a place for things worth keeping.

During the trip, I also found a quiet spot to pull out my journal and sketch the coastline.

Drawing makes me pay attention. I have to look at where the rocks meet the water, how the shoreline bends, and what’s actually in front of me. I’m still learning, but I like having a page that brings me back to the place where I drew it.

We also made our way to Santa Cruz, spent time along the boardwalk, and saw sea lions and birds along the coast. There was plenty to look at without trying to fill every hour.

But the best part was being with family.

Walking with Liz. Spending time with Andrew and Kanoe. Getting to be Grandpa to Kainalu in person.

We missed Bella. She was back in Connecticut at the Coast Guard Academy, and I kept wishing she could be there with us. When your children grow up and build lives in different places, getting everyone together takes more planning. You appreciate the visits, and you still feel who’s missing.

The older I get, the more I value days like these.

Liz and I spend much of our working life dealing with deadlines and problems that need attention. I’m grateful for that work. I’m also grateful for an afternoon when we can walk along the water with our family and let that be enough.

When I think about this trip, I’ll remember the waves, the deer, the little shop in Carmel, and the coastline in my journal.

Mostly, I’ll remember who was beside me.

A good day. A really good day.