While most of the country prepares to slowly emerge from a bitterly-cold, snow-covered winter, March in San Diego is a flurry of outside activities. In particular, seaside communities like Mission Beach and Pacific Beach see a dramatic transformation during this month. Winters along the beach here have a quiet, quaint feel, when locals get to know each other. During those months, you can walk along the boardwalk and not run into anyone for long stretches. The water is filled with surfers and almost nothing else except frolicking dolphins and the occasional passing whale. That all changes in March. Like the opening bell signifying a furious start to the stock market’s day on Wall Street, this March got rolling with a late Mardi Gras on March 8. While not celebrated by all in the same way, this holiday takes place on a Tuesday and seems to begin the blurring of lines between weekends and weekdays for revelers. Soon after that, Spring Break began at various colleges around the country — and where do you think many of those youths in search of sunshine and the ultimate party went? That’s right. San Diego. While some of those partiers cause trouble and disturb the peacefulness we have become accustomed to (trust me, I can relate because I live very close to the boardwalk), the majority of kids bring fresh energy and life to the beach. The people who really appreciate the beauty of the area give us locals some perspective on how lucky we are to live here year-round. This past weekend, throngs of people lined the boardwalk and spread out along our beautiful beaches — and that’s a great thing for our local economy, which has taken such a beating the last couple of years. Local business owners tried to keep up with the frantic pace thrown at them, making up for debts incurred over the last five months. While understandably not everyone will be happy in dealing with the often loud, brazen college youth who travel here, March serves as a rebirth to many in the area. And with St. Patrick’s Day next on the list of reasons to celebrate in this strange but wonderful month, we are still only halfway through. For those seeking tranquility and serenity once again, don’t worry too much — there’s only one March per year.
