As I said last year on this post: “I would like to spend the rest of my life, with my birthdays in front of a beach.” This year, I continued the tradition I sort of accidentally set myself when I spent the birthday with my toes in the sand.

I was here last weekend:

It was new (for me). I had never stayed there before, and I left the planning and coordination to the person I was with. It was a chill weekend, with card games, drinking, relaxing, and a scorching hot walk to the shore.

It wasn’t perfect of course, but for me it was close. Just spending a couple of days not having to worry about anything but where to eat next and if my singkamas (long story) was cold enough, and what to do with almost a pound of salt that we bought for five pesos.

So I wasn’t where I thought I’d be a year ago, but life is pretty awesome, even if it is a different path.

Here’s to the coming years of unexpected tragedy, joy, challenges and blessings.

What is the perfect birthday for you?