Like I said in my previous post, I took myself on a solo trip away from home for a week. I left on a Friday and returned Sunday, so technically it was 9 days and a few hours. Ten separate days.

I scheduled this trip when I let the STBX know that I had filed for legal separation. I made the choice in early February, planning around our youngest’s spring break week. I wanted to allow him to have a week without me, to spend as much time in the house with the kids as possible before he finds a place to move to.

I’ve never really shied away from doing things alone. I don’t have a squad or a group of friends to go out with. I haven’t for most of my life. I’m very comfortable with alone. I took myself to a Smashing Pumpkins concert alone at age 20 (1998) and it was the best experience. I went to a local record store early and waited in line when you had to do that, got to the front and requested my single ticket, and I got a great seat! First row above the floor seats right on the aisle in the now-demolished Universal Amphitheatre. I recommend single tickets any time, it’s way easier to get a single seat than multiples.

The neat thing about traveling alone is that you don’t need to make plans. There’s no coordinating with others, no depending on someone else. And right now, that is what I need. As a mother for over 21 years, it’s been a long time since I have not made all of the plans, packed all of the bags, thought of all the snacks, collected all of the things for the ride, for up to four other people. The cognitive load is so much to remember all the things for everyone in the family. I am so tired of being in charge of all the things.

I am also so used to taking literally EVERYTHING POSSIBLY NECESSARY on every journey outside of my front door. For my kids, and then for me when I gained food allergy powers in 2010, I come well-equipped for any occasion. More than once have we packed a super-automatic espresso maker or a full sized rice cooker in a van for a road trip. This time, I forced myself to do LESS.

No giant suitcase with cooking implements like I take on work meetups. No coffee machine. I did bring some snacks for the first day, plus some Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Date & Nut bars and That’s It Apple And Strawberry bars, just in case. And instant coffee packets, which I did not use once. And my travel utensil kit (yes, the rainbow ones!). But I forced myself to only carry a 32L travel backpack and a purse (alternating with a tote).

Friday, March 21: Took the Capital Corridor from Davis to Richmond, then BART into the city. Found a local market with an in-house packaged salad I could have. Chilled on the family boat in South Beach Harbor.
4.3 miles

Saturday, March 22: Got up and met my uncle as he arrived at the marina to do some sailing. Went to the Ferry Building for a chocolate croissant and an Americano. Went back to the boat to regroup, then took N Judah from 2nd and King all the way to Ocean Beach. Got off and walked along the newly-closed Upper Great Highway all the way to the Cliff House. Went down to the Sutro Bath ruins, then up to the Coastal Trail. Went past the Legion of Honor (hi, art!), and down El Camino del Mar. Walked to Baker Beach, then kept going along the road and footpaths to the Golden Gate bridge. At that point, I’d walked 8 miles just on that portion of the day, so I took the bus to the Fisherman’s Wharf area, transferred and went to Chipotle (my savior when I need a guaranteed place to eat), and took my carnitas bowl back on N Judah to chill on the boat.
13 miles

Sunday, March 23: After a shower at the marina, it was back to the Ferry Building to the same restaurant, Grande Crêperie. But this time I sat and got a crepe with my Americano. And some croissants for later. OMG, so good. They make their savory crepes with buckwheat flour, and mine had ham, gruyere, and an egg, with some greens. I was tempted to journey out to Alcatraz or somewhere else, but instead just walked up Market a bit before taking Muni back to my home base. I relaxed and read the book I had brought, Sunrise on the Reaping, then grabbed a salad and some other snacks at the market. I had a ticket for Labyrinth in Concert that night at The Warfield. What a cool spot, that theater is! I love a good theater, especially ones over 100 years old. The show was AMAZING, the band appears to have tons of fun running this show every night.
8.2 miles

Next: San Diego. Why? Why not.