As I embark on this next calendar year, there are habits I want to die with 2019 and habits I’d like to adopt. Something I want for myself in this next year is to never feel bored. People who are bored have only themselves to blame. I know because a lot of my 2019 was spent bored. I used the “but I have no money” excuse. You don’t need money to have fun. It helps, sure. But think about children. Do they have money? Do they only know how to have fun when money is being spent? No. They have their wild imagination to keep them occupied and they’re having more fun than any of us. Life is too short to spend time in boredom.
So, I wanted a little getaway that wouldn’t cost me anything but would excite me, fulfill me and lift me up.
I did my research, chose San Juan Capistrano, and headed out the next morning.
San Juan Capistrano is a town about an hour and a half away from Los Angeles, just east of Laguna.
The reason I chose it was the old mission there. I am not a religious person by any means. It’s just not for me. I am, however, and old-ruins kind of person. And I was so excited to shoot somewhere like that. Los Angeles is so new in the grand timeline of the world, and I looked forward to seeing something outside my norm.
I woke up, ate breakfast, queued up my favorite podcasts, and made the drive down.
Immediately upon parking, I knew I’d made the right choice. I went for the mission but the whole town was adorable! Looked like a quaint but somehow still vibrant old town, where people smile at each other and take their time.
I had both my film camera and my iPhone and took photos on both.
When I pictured the mission, I pictured myself walking around freely snapping photos with no distractions.
Apparently the day I chose for my little getaway was also the day that 8,000 classrooms in Southern California chose for their little getaways. It was class trip CENTRAL down there. I’m talking hundreds of little rascals running around, not listening to their chaperones and tour guides. I can’t emphasize enough how many children were here.
I mention this for two reasons.
The first being that this day was a lesson in patience. I could so easily have gotten immediately frustrated and turned off from taking photos and having a good time. But I had driven all the way, and this day was supposed to lift me, so I chose to look at it as the universe giving me a laugh.
The second reason I bring this is up is so you can all be super impressed with me when you see that these photos make it look like I actually was the only one there. For some of these photos I’d wait minutes on end in the same spot with my eye at the viewfinder just for a clear shot.
This next photo in particular, I waited at least 3 minutes in this spot. Droves of children just kept walking through this corridor, but I knew I wanted this photo bad enough to wait. And, no joke, 5 seconds later, another group of kids rounded the corner. I was so damn pleased with myself.
A lesson to all photographers: if you have the idea, take the shot. Even if you have to wait for it. Don’t say “forget it, it’s taking too long, it’s too difficult.” Wait for it. Make it happen. It’ll either be worth it or it won’t, but don’t be the photographer who doesn’t at least try!
Like, how stunning does that place look? You don’t have to be religious to appreciate that kind of beauty.
For the So-Cal based, I highly recommend making the drive if you want a low-key, relaxed day trip.
After I left the mission, I walked to the most adorable little street full of shops and cafes. It’s called Los Rios Street, and it’s almost like a block party the way people just walk so casually in the street, ping-ponging across to each storefront. If I was planning to have a meal here, I would have had it here, at the Humminbird House Cafe. But, as I said, I was aiming to have a cost-less getaway, so I just admired and took mental note for next time. How cute is this place, though?
This dog was just people watching from his house, and I was like, “we get each other, you and me.”
On the way out I drove past this building and pulled around the block to park and take photos of it. As a former architecture student, I fell in love. No idea what business this building houses, but I want to work there.
I want more of this in 2020. I know I make it sound easy; saying you should never be bored, when here I am reporting from Southern California, where there is no shortage of sights to see. But I truly believe to get out and see the world around you is wealth, and we all could take a little bit more advantage of it.
At the end of the day, I spent $10 to get into the mission, and I filled my gas tank, which would have happened the next day anyway. I had an incredibly inspiring and fulfilling day for $10. There’s no excuse!
Also, it’s glaringly obvious to me, but I’m curious to see if you guys can spot which of these were taken on the iPhone and which were my film camera!
Comment your guesses below I’ll send one lucky winner a print of whichever photo you choose. How’s that sound? :)
That’s all I got. Til next time. Make today count folks!
xo