This is a bittersweet blog that I started writing in late January. By the time this is posted, today is the day before I am leaving Ventura County and relocating to Los Angeles, specifically Pasadena (that’s another story for the next blog). I knew this moment was coming for about 7 months now. The scenic photos you see throughout the blog are different shots from around the county, mainly Ventura, Ojai and Port Hueneme.
I should probably tell you guys how I ended up here to begin with. When I moved to SoCal in August 2010, I started out in Orange County and my friend Rozen gave me a BFF roommate deal to live with him. I stayed there for 8 months because I was trying to find a full time job in the region – and believe me, for those who don’t live here, it is a huge territory to cover. I started aiming at Los Angeles, Orange County and Riverside. After literally hundreds of job applications, I decided to expand my search up to the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas after I visited it a couple times. This was not my first choice, but keep in mind, the Great Recession was still going on and the state was at a 14% unemployment rate. I did, however, appreciate the coastal climate.
I took a job as an Assignment Editor at KEYT-3 in Santa Barbara. I then transitioned into PR and worked for a firm in Ventura and later a beverage business in Carpinteria before finding a home working with the Department of Defense in 2015. I am a civilian turned contractor, which gives me the opportunity to learn different program aspects on different contracts within the company, all while serving the client. In between all of this, I was ramping up my freelance career with reporting for different publications and doing account management for different liquor brands both on the Central Coast and in Los Angeles.
It started getting to the point where I was in LA 3 out of the 4 weekends every month because of the freelance demand. My life was working my full time job Monday – Friday in Ventura and then being in LA every weekend. Some people didn’t understand how I could do it. I just have a lot of drive, passion and energy, especially for those who work in the media or communications field, you understand, it’s just the way it is. If you’re a working parent, its like going to work full time and then coming home and having to put all of your energy into cooking, doing laundry, moving the lawn, etc…but most importantly, giving time to your child. It’s non-stop work when you have a child. That’s what it’s like for me: the freelancing is my baby. At the moment, it’s mostly dried up because of COVID-19, but I am hoping to revamp it after my Masters degree is completed next year.
Here’s the truth: I do love the Central Coast, which for those who don’t live here, consists of Ventura as Los Angeles’ “sister county,” followed by Santa Barbara to the north and then San Luis Obispo to the north of that. The people are nice. The small businesses are friendly and offer amazing products and services. But it was never my long term intention to stay. If I wanted further career growth – which you guys know I am such a business savvy, hustling kind of person – I needed to be in LA with my career full time. To be honest, it took me on and off about 8 years to find the right job in LA with the right company, the right people, the right salary, the right place to live – the right everything. It’s hard, but with perseverance, it pays off.
Is it hard and sad to leave a place I have spent 9 years building a foundation? Yes. But is it something that has to be done? Yes. Did I cry? Yes, two days before posting this blog (try leaving an awesome view from your apartment over the last 9 years, it’s not easy). Something had to give though, it felt like a tug and pull. I have been asked if I will return and I don’t want to rule it out, but just at this exact moment, I want to say no, only because I might still want to relocate elsewhere in the future.
I am going to miss the climate for sure, which is usually a cool breeze when you’ve been living in a harbor area. I am going to miss some of my favorite restaurants that I have grown to adore and I hope you guys can check out if you ever visit the area (I tried to revisit most of them a month before I left but couldn’t get to all of them):
Brophy’s (Ventura Harbor): Clam Chowder is a must!
Cafe Fiore: the Bruschetta, ravioli and tortellini dishes, not to mention the awesome cocktails!
Cafe Nouveau (Ventura): the Beignets for breakfast. Enough said.
Lure (Ventura or Camarillo): get the oysters, the Pecan Crusted Trout, Crab Louie Salad and the Key Lime Pie.
Spencer McKenzie’s (Ventura): best fish tacos ever!
Waypoint Cafe (Camarillo Airport): best breakfast, any of their dishes is amazing. If you want lunch, get the $100 hamburger!
The Shores (Oxnard): my local hangout where I would catch a Dodgers game and watch the Super Bowls. Any appetizer and burger is amazing.
Wine Closet (Camarillo): where my two girlfriends and I would hang out, the owner has many boutique wines and the charcuterie board with the unique cheeses is delicious.
Rice by Mama (Ventura): Chicken Pad Thai all the way!
Agave Maria’s (Camarillo or Ojai): the Pixie Margarita and tacos. I didn’t get tacos the day I visited the Ojai location.
Anaba Sushi (Oxnard): the Washington Roll or Mango Roll. They have a mix of salmon and crab.
Toppers Pizza (countywide): this is a must, their award-winning pizza is very fresh! And yes, I believe in having pineapple on a pizza.
Capriccio (Ventura): any of their pasta dishes is to die for.
Most importantly, I will miss the chill and kind people. I want to thank all of my managers, co-workers, editors, and community members for allowing me to grow in many ways. It has also been an honor to work for the Navy Base and report on the news that has happened in the county and a special thank you to my sources and readers!
Thank you to all of my friends – Ana, Rosy, Lee, Euvy, Miriam, Johnny, Heather, Hannah, Junia, Melissa, Teresa, John, Janice and to anyone else who I may have missed – you made the experience of living here amazing and we have had a blast! I will never forget our fun and crazy memories. I will make sure to come and visit when I can and vice versa!
Below are some of my favorite sunset photos I took from my balcony or around the Channel Islands Harbor area over the past few months (no filter). This is what really made me sad, but very grateful, during my last week here because God knows I will miss this view, the birds, the sea lions and the walks.
Till we meet again,
