Imperial Beach, CA

Yesterday, Tim and I went to visit our first homes and areas when we lived in southern California 28 years ago. Tim was stationed at NAS North Island and we lived in Imperial Beach. Imperial Beach is a residential beach city in San Diego County. It is the most southern city in Southern California and on the West Coast of the U.S. It is located 19 miles southwest of San Diego and 5 miles northwest of Tijuana, Mexico. Imperial Beach was founded in 1887 and was named after Imperial County, CA located 100 miles east in the desert. Farmers and Landowners from Imperial county would come to Imperial Beach to find cooler weather. In 1887, the Hotel Del Cornado (more about the Hotel Del later in the week) was being built and most of the laborers stayed in Imperial Beach. The laborers liked the area so much they stayed and made it their home. It was incorporated in 1956. Imperial Beach has over 6 miles of beach and is popular for surfing, beach volleyball and boogie boarding. The population is 26,324 with a median income of $49,100 and a median age of 31.
Imperial Beach was where our first and second homes were. The first one was an apartment on the beach with its backside located on a marsh. The marsh is what separated the U.S. and Mexico. Our balcony and bedroom window overlooked the marsh and Tijuana. We could see and hear the Tijuana Bullring. It was also a popular place for the Border Patrol and helicopters would fly around day and night. We decided, after a couple of months, to move to a townhouse on the San Diego bay. We visited both places yesterday. The apartment looks better today then when we lived in it. Imperial Beach spent the last 10 years improving their beach areas and so the housing was also improved. The townhouse looked exactly the same and I felt I could just walk up and go in...I didn't.
We then went to NAS North Island which was Tim's first duty station after joining the Navy. He was transfered back to it in 1983. NAS North Island was commissioned in 1917 and is the birthplace of Naval Aviation. During World War II North Island was the major continental U.S. base supporting the operating forces in the Pacific. It is the home of several Aircraft Carriers and is part of the largest Aerospace-industrial complex. It is host to 23 avaiation squadrons and 80 additional tenant commands and activities. Tim served in two Helicopter squadrons while stationed here. The first one was HSL 31 and the second was HSL 84. Two interesting facts about NAS North Island, the first one is personal. During Tim's first four years here one of his helicopters from his squadron was in a movie, Airport 77 staring Jimmy Stewart. Tim was the sailor on the flightline guiding the helicopter. The second fact is the first commander of NAS North Island was Earl W Spencer. He was also the first husband to Wallin Wallace Warfield Spencer Simpson Windsor, the Duchess of Windor. King Edward VII gave up the throne to marry her. He was her third husband.
It was great to revisit our old stomping grounds and it brought back some great memories. Today, Tim and I are going to Julian, CA. It was once a goldmining town in the mountains but is now is famous for its Apple pies.