After the islands, my husband flew in to join the trip, and we headed for Santa Barbara for a day. As we walked around, we talked about the city’s Spanish architecture, the history of colonization, and the California mission system.
Connecting our visit back to the Lone Woman, who was eventually brought to Santa Barbara after living alone on San Nicolas Island for 18 years, but died only about seven weeks later, opened up another conversation about the devastating effects European diseases had on Indigenous populations.
In nearby Montecito, we visited Godmother’s, a charming bookstore where we settled into the children’s section to read about another local woman who cleaned up a beach daily and inspired others to do the same, a lesson on how small actions can protect the environment.
The baby shower itself was important, too. Showing up for our family, celebrating together, and staying to clean up afterward modeled to our kids that this is how we “do” relationships.
Afterward, we drove to Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, for two nights, where my eldest son took a surf lesson. Watching him catch waves and learn a new skill felt surreal.
