Watching a
recent trailer for “Sideways,” an upcoming dramedy starring Paul
Giamatti, I realized how good singles have it on the Central Coast.
The
wine-tasting adventure film — a romance, naturally — was shot up and
down our expansive vineyards, from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles and
every love-inspiring spot in between.
And boy,
do they inspire.
Every
scenic spot on the Central Coast is just begging for you to ask some
hottie — from work, your softball league, heck, Trader Joe’s — to join
you in renting a convertible, putting on your best duds and sipping a
wonderful wine while feeding each other chocolates and golden
raspberries. (Strawberries are out of season.)
Or why not
walk along the calm Morro Bay waters with nothing but a sliver of moon
reflecting on sea otter skin to guide you?
If you
haven’t figured it out, this column is dedicated to the natural rustic
romance of this county and all the ways it’s good for singles. I should
know. I lived in San Luis Obispo for two and a half years before moving
to the Bay Area last month. This is my last SLO Singles column.
While I
think San Francisco is one of the most romantic cities in the world, the
Central Coast, with its wild beaches, B&Bs and tucked-away mystery,
isn’t too shabby.
And it’s
not just scenery that makes life in SLO good for singles. Since the
unmarried population is still less than other comparable American
cities, the ones who do live here are eager to gather — and stay
together. If you meet one at work, he or she might just become one of
your best friends. If you meet others while volunteering at a middle
school career day, they might be the ones who help you move.
The best
part of being single in SLO is just that — being single. Uno. Solo. With
little distraction from clubs, and just a sprinkling of bars, I spent
some of the best times by myself: Taking a run through Cal Poly after
work and being able to blend in with the undergrads — but thanking God I
wasn’t still one. Taking up a hobby — mine was yoga — and beginning to
master it because you make it more of a personal practice than a gym
class. The lengthy, peaceful drives responsible for strengthening
long-distance friendships through real telephone conversations rather
than brief weekly or, even worse, monthly check-ins.
The next
time someone asks you where you live and then follows that up with, “Oh,
it must be really hard to meet people,” tell them you know yourself
better as a result of living in a small town.
That’s
more important than finding “the one” any day.
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