Anniversary Trip

It was time for Ken and me to celebrate our anniversary. I cannot believe that we have been married for 4 years now. There are times that it seems we have been married longer because we know each other so well, and then there are other times when it doesn't seem long enough and we find ourselves hoping for the 50+ more  years.  We started our tradition of going full-tilt on the anniversary in celebration of his making the first one when we were initially told he wouldn't live that long. (You can see many of the stories Here if you are new to this blog.)

This year, rather than try to make plans and not tell the other, Ken and I sat down and went over the many ideas that we had for a trip to take. We decided on trying out the Bayside Cottages at Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego. We wanted to continue with going places together that we hadn't been to before. We really wanted somewhere where we could relax and unwind, and this turned out to be the PERFECT spot.

Now, getting checked in was an entirely different story. It was a complete mess trying to find the location to check-in to the cottage in the first place. We found the Base just fine, entered through the gate and followed the signs. Apparently, Navy bases do not have to have any system for their building numbering systems, and then there was the problem that the address we were given for the Getaway Inns was not where they were located. After 40 minutes of wandering around the base, we finally called.

Um, no. Making a phone call and talking to a person did not actually help us find them. We did manage to find the cottage, but we couldn't find the lobby of the Inn to check-in. What?! The woman apparently did not understand that we were calling from on the Base, and we figured out that she was giving really good directions if we were trying to find the Base (seriously, "look for the grey ship that's not really a ship" was the best that woman could do??). Ken finally spoke with someone who realized where we were calling from and gave us directions we could follow.  Yay!! So, even after all of the wandering, we were too early to check-in, so we walked across the street and had lunch.

Oggi's was our first choice for lunch, but apparently, they did not make their December 21st Grand Re-Opening date, so we settled for a Mexican place. Ken and I were starving, so we were good with just about anything we could find.

At 1500, we walked back into the lobby only to be told that they weren't done with the cottage yet.  Apparently, the cleaning crew never made it over there, so we sat in the lobby and watched CNN and waited.  

The lady at the desk, Kate, felt really bad and gave us coins for their espresso machine. It wasn't bad coffee, but it wasn't a substitute for the alone time that we were desperate for.

Another hour squeaked by, and we were finally in the cottage. Oh my!! This was so worth the wait!! Ken and I looked at the pictures of the cottage online, but they did not do it justice.

I went onto the wonderfully tiled patio and took a look around. There was an outdoor heater, a tiled counter and plenty of chairs for lounging. It was amazing!! Then, there was the view!

Last night, Ken and I stayed in for the evening.  We had done some grocery shopping in town and had sandwiches from Panera, so we spent the evening taking in the view from the patio and enjoying cheese, crackers and wine. It was so amazing to be able to talk to one another without having to talk over or around the children and then to be able to talk openly about things was another plus. There is a lot to be said about taking the time for your spouse, and we are lucky to be able to do this at least once a year.

Ken and I lounged at The Bayview Cottages all day today. We have a lovely view, and the cottage is spectacular. We were disappointed to learn that the Navy is going to demolish these cottages and get rid of the harbor for a new mammal training later this year, but at least we were able to enjoy them now.

For supper, we found a place online - The Brigantine Point Loma. I had done an internet search, and this place had good ratings. Ken and I loved it here!! The food was excellent and the service was superb!! It was a great way to have an opulent night out to celebrate!

We enjoyed some more wine and crackers after we returned, and then turned in early. It was so nice to NOT have any plans or even have to go somewhere. I wanted to feel guilty about being so "lazy" but Ken and I earned every moment.