Leaving Southern California Opens The Door For Partying Around The World

When one door closes, another one opens.

Well, it does if you think of it that way.

And that’s the way I’m thinking of it.

I have no choice, really. I am being forced to move from my place of residence for the past several years – some estimates put it at around 15 years although I tend to think of everything as happening just yesterday – from The Strand in Manhattan Beach, CA. For those who do not know what The Strand in Manhattan Beach is, let me just say that I have a slight ocean view. There is nothing is in front of me except a few palm trees and sand.

If I were to be any closer to the ocean, I would be a fish.

The only way one leaves The Strand is if someone comes along, holds you upside down and shakes you until the keys fall out of your pocket. That is pretty much what is happening with me.

But instead of being sad – the in-house tiki bar now gone to a friend’s house for safe keeping the next few months was a truly emotional moment – I’m excited. That’s because instead of pouting, I’m partying! I’m going straight from The Strand to Sydney, Australia!

It’s the start of an adventure of a lifetime, a three-month journey that will take me to Australia, back here to Manhattan Beach and the South Bay Beach Cities, to San Diego for the always-fun Wine & Food Festival (get your tickets NOW for that folks!), and eventually to Florida, where my singer/songwriter buddy Eric Stone is opening up Dockside Bar & Grill in Marathon.  which is in the Upper Keys.

I may wind up spending a month – or more – exploring the Keys and the southern and western Florida coast. I will also be joining my family in Siesta Key, just south of Tampa/Clearwater, for the two weeks leading up to Christmas. Family is always the top priority in my world.

When I return to the West Coast, ether before or after the New Year, I may also jump in my car and drive up Highway 101 in California and visit friends in Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. And I have a good friend from Spain who wants to show me Barcelona, but perhaps even better he just moved to Panama, which is an emerging party hotspot.

In the words of Jimmy Buffett, “where it all ends, I can’t fathom my friends.”

I’m going to be a traveling nomad, seeking out the party scene, the best bars and most fun events and people I can find in all these great places. Follow my journey, my adventures and stories here on the PubClub.com blog.

To quote another Buffett song, I’m sure there will be good days, bad days and going half mad days.

There will be times I wish I could call a place home, where I can come back to and drop the bags for a few days and chill out, especially with the view of The Strand.

I’ll be living out of a suitcase – several suitcases, actually, as I have many pre-packed a few so I can just do a “grab and go” as needed – and may be also be living out of a cooler.

Oh, and a toaster oven. Thank goodness for Trader Joe’s for keeping me fed nutritiously and cheaply while in California!

I’m packing light – one airline crew bag, a small duffel and computer-padded backpack for Australia – and am using running shoes  not just for running but for waking and even going out to casual bars and restaurants.  I have to run, of course, because that activity not only keeps me relatively fit but provides with a great perspective of new areas.

So I’m ready. Ready as I could ever be for such an adventure. Yes, I’ll miss living on The Strand. I’ll miss going to sleep to the soothing sound of the ocean, waking up to seeing surfers catching the awesome breaks in El Porto on another perfect, sunny day. I’ll miss having wine, beers, margaritas or boat drinks on the deck at sunset.

But we all miss things from our past, and it’s important to always look forward, not backward.

And I’m definitely looking forward to this adventure.

Cheers!