Hidden Treasures

That's a picture of the famous boat houses of Encinitas. While hanging out at the beach recently, I read the history of them... don't remember enough about them to publish... but they were built by a guy who use to build boats. Guess it's a good thing toilets hadn't been his trade. I've run or cycled by the things for years and hadn't realized they were a hidden wonder to my family. Driving by, they were caught up in the creativity and ingenuity of the project. They are pretty cool. Not quite as cool as the house made out of an old DC3 here in Riverside, but cool just the same. I highly recommend a drive by visit next time your in north San Diego County.

Thinking back, while looking at pictures of our week in Encinitas, I realized how much of life slips by as a hidden treasure. Not because it's hard to see, but because it's two blocks over and no one ever bothered to share it with us. In the years to come, the boats will be torn down and replaced with condos. Who could afford to keep that kind curiosity up and running with the price of beach property? Who would want to? Community support to "Keep Encinitas Funky" (they actually have bumper stickers) is probably much greater then the foundational support the house boats rest on. Check the photo: those front beams go and those boats will be setting sail for PCH with no one at the wheel. Until they ship out towards "Swami's" the legendary surf spot down the street, I'm certain my kids will take their friends by to see the boats... once discovered, "hidden treasures" though well known in the local community, are great indicators of the well visited tourist and always a pleasure to share.

Most of us have hidden treasures; gifts, talents and abilities, that we often hesitate to share. One can play the harmonica beautifully, another is a wonder with roses, someone else is a magician of a mechanic: they're not our primary talents or occupation, but somewhere, a couple blocks off the main road of everyday living, we can do it, it's part of who we are. A great way to connect with people at the core level is to share what others might not know about us.

If someone wants’ to get to know Encinitas, it's imperative that they get off the 5 and cruise PCH. After a few visits, one should wander Neptune, hang out at Beacons, eat breakfast at any of the little hole in the walls and eventually, one needs to make their way to the boat houses- they're sort of at the heart of where Encinitas once was... even if they're no longer where she's going. The hidden treasures of every community are well off the main drag.

In the same way, getting to know people takes more than one visit. Judging someone at a glance is always a mistake. Everyone holds hidden treasures- beauty from the inside just waiting to be released. In order to get there, we need to take a few passes down each other's Main St. Get to know who it is they're presenting to the world. We then need to walk down their back roads- check out what interests they have besides their 9-5. Finally we need to ask about their hidden talents: where're they hiding their boat house behaviors that most of the world is missing out on? By the time we make it that far in a relationship we've had the opportunity to build mutual respect, admiration, friendship and sometimes even love. Well worth the extra time and effort.

Some of the best treasures in the people around us are waiting to be discovered just two blocks back. It's one more great excuse to get off Main Street and dig a little deeper in the lives of the people around us. People build houses that look like boats because THEY WANT people to notice the difference. Each of us has developed hidden treasures because we once hoped someone would take notice. Someone still can. We can. Let's open our eyes to the unique beauty in the people around us.