Dover Court.

Every time we visit San Diego, our beach cruisers always end up gravitating towards the Court where we  met as next door neighbors.

Dover Court.

{Looking North towards Pacific Beach & La Jolla.}

I lived at 718, and he was next door at 722. Located in South Mission Beach, two houses in from sand and ocean.

{On my old fence, looking west towards the beach.}

 {718 Dover...my old bedroom window on the right.}

{Jack's old entry door in the middle of the picture, lower floor of 722 next to my bedroom window.} 

I was in my junior year of college at the University of San Diego. He was studying microbiology at San Diego State University.  I sort of use the term "studying" loosely...we were focusing on the investment in a different part of our future...each other. And friends. I think that is one of the most important parts about college, actually. Learning to balance it all. Don't get me wrong...we did spend several all nighters in the library together that year...but mostly because we had to. Studying was not going to happen at home. Work hard, play hard...and we did it well. 

Dover Court was was Sept-May dorms at the beach. Students from colleges all around came down to live with roommates in the cute but equally run down bungalows lining the boardwalk. Priorities included: Surfing. Laying out. Running. Playing volleyball. Rollerblading. Bike riding. Laying out. Surfing. Laying out. Priorities did not include: Eating. Studying {I did make 99.9% of my classes, though!}. Seeing MTV filming the latest reality show next door wasn't really big news. And neither was coming home to a complete stranger sleeping on your couch.

My first memory of Jack would be seeing him walk by my door carrying his surf board towards the beach. He was in an all black tank top and board shorts and all I could think was: He. Is. So. Cute.

Later that night, my roommate Ashley was doing my hair & makeup in our bathroom for a party later. Jack was unusually interested. And wanted to join us later. I wondered why.

Dover is also where I snagged my dream internship at the {imo} best boutique tax firm in all of San Diego, which turned into my dream job after I graduated. So, although after living at the beach for a year felt almost as if I had survived a war {exhaustion from always being on the go, heading to a party, working out, getting to class, working my hostess job to pay the rent-which I would not have been able to do without my family's help}, I wouldn't give up that experience for anything. I still am in contact and love almost every friend I made on Dover Court, and I ended up marrying my next door neighbor. Yes, living here probably did play a large role in the only C I earned in my college career {Operations Management...what even IS that?}, but it was beyond worth it. Hands down, Dover Court was epic.

Some other fun facts:

Jack's parents lived on Dover Court as newlyweds.

Dover Court is the only reason I know how to parallel park like a champion...in any vehicle.

Dover Court is where Jack and I discovered that we have the same birthday. 8.3.1984. It was all over from there...why fight destiny?

Dover Court is where my husband proposed to me {years later}:

{Moments after the proposal. Jack's Dad was hiding with a camera to catch our faces...so that's what the growing crowd on the boardwalk was doing.}

Here's to many more of our generations having memories on Dover. I wouldn't trade mine for the world.