Cayucos

Bad news: my school district has shortened our summer vacation to 6 weeks--we go back Friday, July 30. Good news: winding down summer with some pretty cool excursions--just returned from spending a couple days with my youngest cousin Deb, husband Garth and their dog Mia in Cayucos. Next week, headed to Colorado with Andrew and his mom for regional ("zonal") tennis competition (a pretty big honor for Drew to be invited), which is being held on the grounds of the National Air Force Center in Colorado Springs.

Cayucos--at first glance, this might sound like some town one would find on the coast of Peru--but it is actually just north of Morro Bay--roughly half way up the coast between LA and SF. It is one of those small, lazy, stereotypical California beach towns full of local flavor. It is also where Debbie (a landscape architect) and Garth (an architect/builder) currently reside. A little over two years ago, they broke ground on a home on a hillside overlooking Morro Bay/Cayucos/the Pacific ocean. Three levels with huge picture windows to take in the scenery--from the living room or deck, a constant stream of activity--surfers, dive-bombing pelicans, dolphins, sailboats--just an unbelievably beautiful 180 degree view of God's creation at it's finest.

Thursday Deb took the day off and turned into tour guide. First we drove up to this look-out place where people can watch elephant seals lazing on the sand and playing in the water. Years ago there was free access down to the beach; apparently, humans (and dogs) didn't exactly respect these creatures as they should, so there is now a wooden railing between us and them. This is the season where the females were all out in the ocean hunting for food, so just the males were on display. Big, ugly creatures--but cool to watch.

Then she took me to this "town" called Harmony. Population: 18. Yup--has its own zip code/post office (which was closed), and boasts not one, but two stores: a pottery store, and a store where they have glass blowers in the back making really cool stuff they sell in the front part. There used to be other stores, but--who knows--the economy?!?

Headed back to downtown Cayucos, walked along the pier and then across the street to the Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie shop. Opened by two sisters a couple years ago, it has become this huge success story. They are now shipping their cookies all over thru their web site, and after tasting those things, it's no surprise. Calling them "cookies" really doesn't do them justice--they cost $1 each, and come in 3 flavors: cocoa, espresso and plain. I had the plain and cocoa, and both were simply the best cookie I have ever tasted. Melt-in-your-mouth, sorta like a combination of candy/fudge/cookie dough. Go online and order some . . .take the taste test!

To round off the day we took Mia for a walk along the beach looking for sea glass. This was something new to me--Debbie explained that people collect pieces of glass that have come from old broken bottles left behind by beach goers who don't take care of their trash. Over time, the action from the tide, the sand and other natural occurrences polish these pieces, and not only do people collect them, but they also have sea glass Festivals all over the world. Deb is on the committee for the first annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival March 5th, 2011!

What to do?

Pretty sure I still have the "ask the audience" lifeline in play, and I'm going to use it now. Looking for any guidance you can give me in a landlord/tenant situation. Usually stuff is either common sense, or it is covered by fairly clear legal guidelines. But this situation is new (for me), and I am frankly stumped. That's where you come in . . . .

For the past four years, I have been managing a rental cabin in Crestline. After 3 and 1/2 years, the current tenant will be moving out next week. Last weekend I received a call from a couple interested in leasing it, and gave them the address so they could drive by. They pulled over in front of the cabin, and the current renter happened to be in the front. She offered to show them inside, so they received a brief tour. They liked it. Linda (name changed) called me this morning to share this, to say she really liked them, and said, "the couple is black--is that a problem for you?" Anyone who knows me even remotely should figure out how I answered that question. But then she said, "You know my next door neighbor Bill (name changed)? The older retired gentleman? Well, after they left he came over and asked what they were doing there." Bottom line: Linda and I live in the real world, where everyone gets along. Bill, on the other hand, is old school, meaning . . .well, that's part of the problem. Not really sure "how" old school (racist) he is--nor do I really care. HOWEVER, the potential renters might care.

Here's where my confusion lies: do I disclose to this nice young couple that if they move in, they may have a neighbor who doesn't like them (possibly a lot)? By doing so, would they get the (wrong) impression that I am trying to get them not to rent the cabin? Or, should this issue just be left alone to work itself out, and not even bring it up--hoping that Bill will deal with it in a "civilized" manner, and that the couple won't know or won't care about his "attitude" towards people different from himself? Honestly, I really have no idea how to proceed here--audience--you have 60 seconds, and the clock . . .starts . . .now. Any thoughts, suggestions, opinions are welcome--thanks.