San Diego has been keeping me busy these past few months. It’s strange, going from the slow pace of Cave Creek, AZ to a faster city pace. Although San Diego isn’t as big as Los Angeles, the fun stuff is much closer together and you get that urban rush. So much of feeling like you’re part of a city depends on where you live. When I was in LA, I had a different lifestyle depending on which part of town I was living in. In Culver City, it was all about the multiple Trader Joe experience, bike rides on the beach and sitting in traffic. In Mount Washington, it was bohemian, artsy, city views and parties. In East Los, it was all about the thrift stores, the cemetaries and good, greasy Mexican food.
The North Phoenix/Cave Creek experience was a welcome change from LA. I learned to enjoy long walks in the unspoiled desert, I was insulated and isolated and had plenty of time for solitary pursuits. That’s how my crafting obsession started. With no musician friends around to engage in musical endeavors, I started to gravitate towards things I could make by myself, for myself. With music, I always find myself wanting to record and perform for an audience. I found my audience was more Tempe than Cave Creek, but I digress.
Sometimes Desert...North Phoenix/Cave Creek
Here in San Diego, I live right in the heart of the city and there’s always something happening. It took my 2 years in Phoenix to find friends I could relate to. It took me less than 2 months here. Of course, a lot has to do with my being proactive. I started a Meetup group called Destroyers of Mass Production. The group was meant to attract crafters who are committed to reducing their dependence on corporate goods by helping each other sharpen their creative skills to the point where they can construct the things they need. My online group has the same purpose and exchanges crafting, gardening and cooking tips as well as provocative ideas.
Sometimes sea...North Park at night
In San Diego, there’s so much going on that it’s hard to get the Zen feeling of crafting in isolation. There are pros and cons to this. Here, I often I feel like a Model T trying to do 80 on the highway. I’m getting a lot done, meeting lots of people, but I sometimes wonder if I'm leaving parts strewn on the road. I’ve even pushed myself to enter a group collage show at the local bar/gallery. My Destroyers group motivates me and keeps me striving for goals that I sometimes think are slightly beyond my reach. I guess that’s good, but my soul craves the long walks in the desert, the clear skies, beautiful sunsets and the simple joy of nothing to do, no place to be. But I guess the views are not too shabby here.
Switzer Canyon, San Diego...where I walk my dog
This weekend, there’s a big craft fair hosted by the North Park Craft Mafia which I have to go to, there’s the San Diego Indie Music Fair and the South Park Walkabout, all of which are walking distance from my house and all are fun things that I want to do. Some of my new crafty friends will be there and the events are all family friendly, so what’s a girl to do?
