Yes, I write on little journals, I have almost 6 yrs doing it and I have a little box full of them, It isn't organized but it's always nice to look through when I'm searching something.
Ensenada in Baja California, México, there's a big expat community, there's beach, you are like 1-2 hours from San Diego, it does have a Mexico National University Unit, it hosts the baja score off road races, also there is a lot of breweries & fancy restaurants, plus, is has the same bay area timezone.