I've always imagined myself as an older therapist with long gray hair, wearing a tie-dye dress and Birkenstocks. Helping the younger generation gain freedom through the wisdom of age.  A quaint trailer for my home. Maybe a wind chime and a beaded curtain for a door.  

A free-spirit. Unburdened by the stylish demands of a fickle society.  Eating homemade granola. Comfortable in my own skin.

Instead, I live in a cul-de-sac in a college town. I don't smoke pot.  Or burn incense. And I will probably never pay off my student loans.  I color my hair.  Probably too much.

But, I am a therapist.  And, there's still time.  Who knows?
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Do you ever dream of a carefree life?  Off the grid or otherwise disconnected from daily chaos?

On sunny breezy days like today, I think about that.  

Happy daydreams, my friends, - M

Subscribe to the wannabe hippy's mental health vlog at Can We Talk? or find me @TweetmentPlan. 

One month into my return to Chico, California and I have to bid farewell to some old stand-bys; some hometown heroes of days past…

Speedy Burrito. I thought that place would last forever, but judging from the online reviews, it apparently went waaaay downhill before its final demise.  But back in the day, man, they made the best burrito ever.  Seriously.  Ever.  If you know of anyone who has the family secret recipe, tell them to get back in business, asap.

Chuck E Cheese- yep, gone.  Ah, I remember many, many (too many) visits to see the giant scary mouse with my older kids when they were little.  Birthday parties, too many to count.  Gross, greasy, cardboard pizza… unlimited noisy fun for the kids.  And a day-long headache for the parents.  (The things we do for our children.)  Even the joint that took over, Fun Zone & Pizza, has closed down.  (What is this place, a ghost town?!)   I realize that we are known as a party/ college town, but people, please!  I need a birthday party location for my soon-to-be 5 year old. 

Spirits of America.  At least the crashed airplane is still there.  But really, “Quick Stop,” just doesn’t have the same ring.  Our famous landmark... cheapened to a mere…  gas station.

Tubing. Floating down the River on Labor Day is a Chico tradition. Well, it was.  Now there is a ban on alcohol.  ‘Nuff said.

Thankfully, Hula’s, Bidwell Park, the Farmer's Market and the awesome weather are still here.  
That, and about 30,000 extra people.  Chico is chico no mas. But it is still muy bueno.


​Photo credit: http://www.chico.ca.us/