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Missing Coronado...

It's been about 2 months since I moved away from Coronado - just enough time to realize what I really miss about this magical little oasis across the bridge from San Diego.

I've always described Coronado as the "Martha's Vineyard" of Southern California (with the bonus of great weather) and occasionally would refer to it as "Pleasantville." Any description you choose there is no denying Coronado is a special place with a dynamic not found anywhere else.

So what is it that lingers in my mind as great memories. Let me take you down my memory lane:

1. The obvious...the innocence of Pleasantville with the art and culture of San Diego just a beautiful bridge drive away.

2. Schools...loved that for the first time I didn't have to budget for private school.

3. My parked Car...I only had to fill it with gas maybe once a month.

4. Town...I could walk to town - in fact, I had two routes to choose depending on which part of town I wanted to end up in.

5. Errands...I walked or rode my bike to the dentist, doctor, dry cleaner, grocery store, school, beach, etc.

6. Restaurants...so many new ones! It is becoming a haven for gourmands.

7. SEALS! Let's be honest, I loved that I could go for a beach run and get swallowed like a swarm of bees by Navy SEALS.....who all quickly passed me by.

8. Military...while we're on it, I loved living in a military proud town. Thank you especially for that!

9. Entertainment...I loved "Concert in the Park" on warm summer evenings.

10. Hotel Del...I love the beauty and amenities of the world famous Hotel Del at my beck and call (even if it cost $70 for 3 hamburgers and a kids meal at the Sun Deck).

So I've decided not to say goodbye but just until we meet again...

Visit the website: www.deepredcellar.com

Tags: california, community, coronado, people

12 members like this

Comment by Heather Callahan Fritsch on March 2, 2012 at 3:54pm: Thank you for expressing what so many people feel about Coronado! Our family moved from Coronado to the Bay Area two years ago after enjoying that beautiful town for ten years. My husband and I were married there, and we lived with our two young sons aboard our 47' sailboat at CYC. Sunsets over Glorietta Bay with the Del in the background are missed the most! It is a most treasured place for us, and I am so happy to have called it home. While we are enjoying our new community, we are thankful that we are able to visit family and Coronado a few times a year.

Comment by DENISE "ADAMS" SHIRLEY on March 2, 2012 at 4:29pm: Very nice Julie! As an "oldie" I miss the Coronado that existed in my teens....no stop signs, no stop lights, no tall buildings, no crime, no bridge.....the ferry, La Avenida, Mexican Village, Day & Night Cafe, 3 egg specials, bike races, football games where you could see your parents cheering in the crowd, Don Valliere.....so many different wonderful memories depending on what time period you grew up there....thanks for the memories Julie!!

Comment by Julie Overstreet on March 2, 2012 at 5:22pm: Mary Douglas - You will LOVE it! So glad you are getting the opportunity to move to Coronado. We are military too - spent two tours in Coronado although this last one was way too short (18 mths). We have every intention of retiring in this great little paradise!

Comment by Julie Overstreet on March 2, 2012 at 5:24pm: Heather - Living on a sailboat with the best views of the island...now that's living!

Denise - Thank you for sharing the Coronado of the past - sounds peaceful. I'm happy to hear my post led you to reminiscence. :)

Comment by Julie Williamson on March 3, 2012 at 6:46am: Julie, Another Julie here. I''m the perfect example of never saying goodbye: we did five tours there, for a total of almost 13 years and lived in five different homes on the island. You did a great job of capturing why Coronado is special. I'd add Dog Beach (my Lab's idea of Heaven!), the local newspaper (even with all its typos!), lunches at the golf course (such a pretty view!), the 4th of July parade and the American flags that the Rotary puts down the median to honor our nation, and the Flower Show competition that makes the island so pretty. My favorite photo was taken on our last New Year's morning on the island from the little park at the end of E Avenue of the sunrise turning the San Diego skyline all shades of pink.

Comment by Lynnda Shepherd on March 5, 2012 at 7:44am: Mary - check craigslist or cottonwoodelectriccarts. :-) When we move back we're getting another one for sure! It's the only way to get around on the island.. Well.. that or bikes!

Comment by Jill M Gonzalez on March 5, 2012 at 11:45am: I worked at Naval Station North Island for 32 years and loved coming into town. Was able to move here in 1983 but only stayed three years. Finally was able to come back in 2001. We lost our condo in 2009 so we went RVing until we had to come back in 2010. It's the only place I wanted to live in all of San Diego. It's a peach of a town. So friendly and easy to get to everything you could want. I am going to miss it so much. We are moving to Texas. But I sure will be back to visit whenever possible. It's one of kind town. I've been blessed to have enjoyed the community.

Comment by CECILIA A. CASEY (Cece) on March 5, 2012 at 11:51am: Great work Julie - I lived in nado most of my life and I miss it every single day !!

For Mary Douglas - Retired Navy kid here - you will adore Coronado and kids well let's just say they will probably get really mad when you have to move to your next duty station. I hope you enjoy the island - and the Navy Lodge is a great place to stay while shopping for a home - and for all the visitors you will be getting once you move - trust me!

Comment by Tony Phillips on March 5, 2012 at 1:17pm: Whenever I come across the bridge for July 4th and our class reunion (class of 70) I always feel the pull of the town welcoming me back. Living in Orange County since the 70's has never dulled my love for the wonderful town of my birth. As I have told many friends "You never realized how lucky you were growing up in Coronado, until you moved away!".

Comment by Roberta Goodwin on March 5, 2012 at 2:03pm: Ah, like Beth I too moved away - the the SF bay area - when I was just 12. And although I loved San Francisco and all it offers, and Sonora where I retired to a few years ago, I think back and realize I never quite appreciated the ability to walk everywhere, including the ferry (5 blocks away), my grandmother's apartment building (1/2 block), school (2 blocks down my alley), the library & park (1 block down the alley), my dad's business (6 blocks), the theater on Saturdays (5 blocks) and the beach (6 or 10 blocks depending on which one!). Friends never more than a few blocks. Playing in the surf and rocks at the beach, a big wow. My tennis lessons at the Del. What kid could wish for more?

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