To the Ocean to Reset

Beautiful Asbury Park image from tripsavvy.com.

Sis drove from Connecticut with her sweet little dog, Buttercup, and then Sug and I drove down to the Shore with them in Sis's Chevy Malibu.

The ocean is bigger than us, bigger than our worries. We went to Asbury Park, loved seeing old Convention Hall, the boardwalk, etc. Then past Ocean Grove, through Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake.

When we left Montclair, it was sunny and warm. By the time we pulled away from Spring Lake, it was gray and cold. The Spring Lake dream houses looked pretty, as always--perfect sky-blue and white, sea-blue and white, the landscaping manicured, with perfectly rounded shrubs, carefully edged lawns. No shaggy trims allowed.

Good night.

TCOY

1. Walked by ocean with Sis, Buttercup, Sug.
2. Talkied to Sis. "Look forward," she said.
3. Helpful phone call.
4. Women's group tonight. Grace. Gratitude. Goodness.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Booskerdoo Coffee + Baking Co. in Asbury Park--my new friend Linda's daughter and son--in-law roast their own beans and Amelia bakes and they now have 6 locations! Got large cold brew and bag of Black & Tan coffee beans, plus tip, about $16
• Italian food shop, Sis and I shared a chicken cutlet sandwich and I bought a box of whole ravioli with vegetable filling to bring home....it said non-dairy so I figured great, vegan for Figgy, but after I was gone, I saw whole egg on ingredient list, about $21.
• Spring Lake, bag of nice roasted cashews from chocolate shop, $3.

Total daily spend: $40.

Ongoing monthly spend as of Feb. 24: $1,996.30.

Avg daily spend: $83.18.