home People Coronado View on Simplicity

Coronado View on Simplicity

The fast pace of modern American life makes us often forget to take a step back and enjoy the simple things. We asked some locals to share how they cut the noise and clutter in order to focus on what really matters.

“I don’t have a cell phone or a Facebook account and I’m OK with that. I can be myself without having to worry what other people think. I don’t have to tell the whole world what I’m doing. Instead of being on the phone or computer, I choose to do ballet, read, rollerskate with my brother, or go to the beach with my family. I think these activities are better for me and are more fun.” ~Lily Mann

“My kids don’t have iPhones because I don’t want them to be distracted by cell phones and the pressures associated with social media. Limiting electronic communications puts the focus on human interaction. I want my kids to just be children enjoying childhood. They are both down-to-earth, physically active, healthy and happy. When people are on their phones too much, they forget to look up and they miss out on what’s happening around them. Life is simpler — and happier — when you look up, pay attention to the present and focus time on family and friends.” ~ Kara Mann

Lily and Kara Mann
Lily and Kara Mann

“The essence of keeping things simple is in knowing the nuances of your work and responsibilities and then developing routines you can rely upon to carry them out. For me, that means starting every morning early to walk my dog and fuel up at Starbucks. And when things get hectic, I know who I can lean on for help. When work runs late, my dad walks the dog for me. He says it’s his way of serving the city!” ~ Mayor Casey Tanaka

Casey Tanaka IMG_5242
Casey Tanaka

“I am a quadruplet and have six sisters in total. I have to give credit to my mom — she is Wonder Woman for raising so many girls. The seven of us work to simplify things for her by doing chores together — one of us vacuums while another does dishes and someone else walks the dog. Although a big family is hectic and crazy, it’s a lot of fun. Even when it feels ridiculously chaotic, we find simplicity when we are all together and enjoying ourselves.” ~Maddy Waitley

Maddie Waitley IMG_0508
the Waitley sisters

“At the end of my senior year, 15 of my best friends and I took a two-week road trip all over the southwest and camped. The days were quite simple, and that was what made it all so enjoyable: we slept outside under the Big Dipper and thousands of other stars that city folk never see. We cooked our own food over fires we made. We smelled like dirt and sweat and smoke and didn’t care. And we were surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. By getting back to nature, we got back to our roots — and there’s simply no other feeling like it.” ~ Colin Sweeney

Colin Sweeney
Colin Sweeney

“I am a mother of three — Mason, 14, George,13, and Ella, 11. One of the things that’s so awesome about Coronado is that it allows us to get around conveniently. My kids bike to school and make their way to their own sports practices. They can be responsible for themselves, which offers them a level of growth that kids in other locales may not have. For me personally, I love the fact that living on the island means I don’t have to get in my car. I can ride my bike to work at the Coronado Historical Association, where I don’t need to wear a suit and high heels. I can jump in the ocean after a long day at work and then ride over to the school and watch one of my kid’s water polo or lacrosse games in the evening.” ~Mary Farley

Mary Farley
Mary Farley

“When I decorate shelves and surfaces around my home, I keep things de-cluttered by starting with sentimental items and then building around them in groups of threes (like our vintage camera, a stack of favorite books, and a vase). It makes the space my own and creates a perfect balance. Two things I find vital to an organized home are skinny hangers and baskets. Skinny hangers provide more space in my closet so I can actually see my wardrobe items, and the organization makes opening closet doors fun again. I use baskets in closets, entryways, the kids’ rooms, the kitchen, and the bedrooms … OK, everywhere. Giving every item a place to be “put away” makes tidying up a breeze.” ~Jessica Nicolls

Jessica Nicolls
Jessica Nicolls

“We decided to sell our spacious four-bedroom home, which we built to accommodate our growing family. But now that our four children live all over the country with homes of their own, it made sense to downsize. With less upkeep and maintenance, we have more time to enjoy the Coronado sunsets and biking down Ocean Boulevard. There’s still room for family, grandchildren and friends to visit us in our new, smaller beach home, but we’re less encumbered so we can travel and enjoy our Medicare years!” ~ Gail and John Pedrotty

Gail and John Pedrotty
Gail and John Pedrotty

“From what I put in my body to what I carry on it, I try to keep it minimal. I enjoy my coffee free of milk or sugar (or whatever people put in coffee these days) and I drink plenty of water every day. I avoid over-the-counter and prescription medications and instead choose an Eastern approach to letting my body heal itself. I use a money clip for my license and debit card, effectively avoiding the “George Costanza” wallet look. Everything I use for the workday, I keep in my backpack, and that stays with me throughout the week.” ~ Preston Lujan

Preston Lujan
Preston Lujan

CLM Starfish

Leave a Reply