I was able to score a beach rental for the summer at a costly, but not unfair price. I had paid for three months, and because of the length of my stay, the owner cut me a break. I had shared with him a little about my story and why I needed a beach rental, and he felt sympathy for me; cutting the price by thirty-three percent since I would pay in advance for the entire summer.

We arrive at the home on the corner of I Avenue and 7th Street early the next morning to meet the owner. Silvio was raised near the Tuscan Region of Italy and had immigrated to the United States at eighteen. Not unlike many, he came with ten dollar in his pocket, started a business and became an American homegrown millionaire. If you have ever read the book, "The Millionaire Next Door", this was Silvio. He owned a butcher shop, he explained; and had expanded to seven locations in thirty years in the business. His wife, Maria, had been an interior designer after raising their three children and did well herself. Along the way, they had bought several homes at deep discounts with cash in the several downturns in the real estate market near Coronado Beach, and hence; did well in their investments and there business.

After touring the home with Maria and having had her give a brief history of the home and its amenities, it was time to move our things in for the summer. Liam was the first to be unpacked and fully ready with a bathing suit on. He stood in the kitchen drinking a water, impatiently waiting on the "ladies" to unpack. After about another fifteen minutes, Isabella and I donned our suits and gathered a few items to eat and the necessary items like sunscreen and we ban walking toward Coronado Beach.

Typically rated one of the top beaches in America, it is not as heavily commercialized as one might think. The price of the real estate for the summer, and hence the affluence of the people who frequent keep the "riff-raff" out. Over time, the beach population has gained in numbers of course, as the rating has increased, but the normal crowd still flocks in each year expecting things to be mainly unchanged.

We stayed the afternoon at the beach until 5:00 PM the first day; not wanting ti wear ourselves out, and then retreated to our Italian Villa for some dinner. Liam had stated it was his nite to cook. A short trip to the store was in order, and then it would be London Broil, asparagus, cous cous, and red-skinned potatoes cut into steak fries for dinner. A long winter's nap, or summer's nap I guess, and some discussion beforehand on the patio before bed was in order.