28 th , my spot

It’s the 1st place identified for exploration once we settled in 12 months ago . I remember standing on the Hermosa pier , looking north, wondering . What’s it like up there ? The curve of the SouthBay starts to hook to the left. The waves look bigger yet they’re only a kilometre away . Eventually I settle and surf this stretch on the 28 th lifeguard tower . Early days I’d send videos and pictures of this location . It’s weird but 28 th tower was my football jumper number , so I felt a stupid attachment to this place . The real estate and the vibe up there had me daydreaming about living up there . A niche enclave with its own mini set of shops , deli , liquor store , bar and restaurant. You just pictured yourself walking to the beach , coming back home and then drifting across for a margarita in the courtyard bar while watching the sunset .Alas it was a pipe dream , for this area is highly sought after and extremely expensive . Fast forward : we’ve been watching it for a while . Events with our current digs had become uncertain , we expected to stay , but at the same time Emma and I had been browsing the rental market . This place kept on bobbing up in our conversation , but it surely will go ? It didn’t , so we assumed it had major flaws for the price range offered . Then things changed , we needed to get out and find a new place . For some reason we kept bypassing it . We eventually enquire but mixed communication meant we never got a reply . It wasn’t to be . Eventually after 6 weeks we check it out . We are told by the real estate agent we are expected to show an exemplary credit history and at least 12 months worth of rent in savings! You’ve gotta be fucking kidding , cross this joint off the list . 2 days later Mike the real estate agent sends an email wishing our family with ‘God’s blessing and good fortune’ and asks when do we want the keys ? …. What ? That’s it , it’s ours . The address 250, 28 th street , sitting 300 meters up , looking over tower 28 .