Anyone who knows me can attest that I am a person of passion. Yes…that means I’m kind of loud but, it ALSO means I am passionate about the things I do like helping people improve their lives through real estate, and I am equally as passionate about where I play. In fact, there are little places I am not passionate including things like chai tea and road rage. Hey, I’m not perfect, I’m just passionate. Anyway, I wanted to share such a cherished event with you that really lights me up that comes around each fall with your over saturation of pumpkin spice.

This past Sunday I attended the 26th annual Paddle for Cleanwater in Ocean Beach. This event is put on by the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Since I moved to Ocean Beach, circa 2005, I have been involved with the organization in one degree or another because they represent protecting something I am very passionate about.

I know everyone has had one of those day, months, or even years where you felt kicked when you were down, and no matter what you do you can’t catch a break and your world is turned upside down where you can’t remember where you put your keys, much less calculate your next career move…. We’ve all been there, in some shape or form, insert your own crisis. When I feel that way, when there’s no solid ground under my feet and no one quite seems to understand, I turn to the same place time and time again for solace. Some go to church, some go for a run or a drink ,some seek God… that place is this for me and every time, without fail it soothes me, embraces me, and pulls me from my thoughts into the now and lifts my spirits. And when times are grand this place provides so much joy and fun and you always feel better after going in no matter how good you felt to start. This place is… Barona, KIDDING, its the Ocean.

I’m not sure why it is, I’m a water sign? It’s the negative ions? The why isn’t important but, its never failed. And I support the Surfrider Foundation because it protects what supports me in happy and in mad.  Surfrider supports legislation and takes action to protect this mighty saving grace in my life and I believe in so many others.  This particular event I attended, The Paddle For Cleanwater is my favorite one they put on because the ocean going, respecting and loving community comes together in droves to do an almost 2 mile paddle around the Ocean Beach pier. It’s a site to behold and in such a fun loving way it drives awareness of issues that threaten the health of our church, our playground, the Ocean.

Surfrider does beach clean-ups around the county on a regular basis and a recurring culprit and biggest burden by weight that is collected despite their scant size, is cigarette butts. Why in the holy heck are people willing to spend $10 a pack to smoke them but can’t walk 10 ft to put a butt in the garbage. Next time you see someone do this, tell them NO! It pollutes the beaches and the ocean water and life and without a healthy ocean, I have to figure out what my life means and nobody wants that. I jest but it’s with a grain of truth and the truth of the matter is without a healthy ocean we don’t have a healthy planet, which leads to unhealthy humans. So if you’re not the altruistic type, think of protecting the ocean as self preservation. Among protecting strips of coastline from commercial development, putting cigarette receptacles along street lights, adding “Drains To Ocean” signage in street sewers, Surfrider fights bigger battles like fighting to have SOMEONE be gosh darn ( I have a toddler now so I’ve been reducing my expletives but you get the gist) RESPONSIBLE for the gross negligence of sewage dumps from Mexico and the Tijuana River.

Again, I am passionate about the cause because the ocean grounds me is the root of my center and I don’t want to surf in a sea of putrid turds- again if you’re not the tree hugging environmental type, a sea of shit is bad for tourism.  So, getting off my soap box this Paddle For Clean Water is an amazing event that starts in the AM with yoga on the beach, has now added a walk to get the attention of people not posted on the beach at 8am on a September Sunday. And at about 10am the beach explodes with energy as hundreds of people “brave” the sub-70 degree water and make their way around the pier with their unknown yet, familiar brethren and back to the beach.

I think Mother Nature supports the cause because in the 10 years I’ve been attending this event, there have always been fun-size, you know like the mini snickers, waves to send us all in.

While I was unable to paddle this year with my toddler, Sophia, in tow, I did have the privilege of capturing a few photos from a vantage I had not yet taken in this awesome annual adventure. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Check out Surfrider to see how you can support keeping our ocean’s (and in turn yourself) clean.

This event marks the beginning of all the amazing events that happen around San Diego County in the fall. Check out Fall Events here.

 

Surfrider Paddle For Clean Water 2017

Photos by: Lenora Lostaunau, M.A. & REALTOR all rights reserved.