Long time no see on the blog! I’m taking advantage of this quarantine to get back into journaling and blogging in a more conversational, first-person style. Hopefully, this will keep both you and me entertained. If it seems like you’ve missed a lot, don’t worry—I’ll catch you up as we go. In the meantime, stay safe and don’t forget to wash your hands!
Over the past few days, we’ve been soaking up some sun because San Diego has reopened the beaches. My husband is on leave this week, which has given us more time to enjoy it. However, I’ve noticed that my current sun exposure is very different from what I was used to back in Guatemala.
In Guatemala, I spent a lot of time in the shade. I avoided the sun for most of the day. I would wake up with the sunrise around 6-6:30 am and take my dogs for a walk, making sure we were back by 8 am. After that, the only outdoor activity was swimming. I had a shaded terrace with plenty of plants for extra protection, a deck on the water for reading in a hammock, and a bedroom with thick walls that kept it cool inside.
Right now, we’re parked facing north with our RV. One side of the RV faces east and gets the morning sun, but the awning only becomes useful around noon when the sun shifts. In the afternoon, the west side, which has the most windows, including the bedroom ones, gets the sun. This makes taking an afternoon nap unbearable unless there’s a strong breeze.
We usually take our walks late in the morning or mid-afternoon. Today, I noticed my shoulders starting to burn since I wore a tank top for the first time in a while. My husband’s head is peeling because he went out yesterday without a cap.
Another thing I’m not used to is the heat reflecting off the pavement in the RV park. It gets really hot! I try to spend more time outside, but when it’s too bright, I can’t see my computer screen or read comfortably. Using sunscreen is becoming a regular habit here, whereas in Guatemala, I mostly avoided the sun altogether.
There can be too much of a good thing, but I’ve got to say, I love getting some sun. It lifts my spirits and relaxes me. Going through quarantine without it would be tough. It’s great to have more beach options now, and people in San Diego are being responsible, so there’s no immediate threat of beach closures unless the governor decides to close all California coasts. Keep your fingers crossed and remember to wear sunscreen too!