Local Kite Enthusiast Brings Joy to the San Diego Country Estates Skies
Many residents who travel in and out of the San Diego Country Estates on San Vicente Road have noticed colorful kites dancing in the sky, guided by the hands of a man who has turned kite flying into both an art and a passion.
Sean Day, owner of All Day Tile, has been an SDCEA resident for 11 years. He drives his golf cart to the kite-soaring location and delights passersby with his graceful displays as the wind carries his kites all over the sky. Drivers wave and honk in appreciation as he flies his beautiful kites in the open field at the edge of our lovely community. Day has been flying at this location since 2014 and says the ideal weather condition to fly a kite is a steady 12-mph wind.
Day says that flying kites gives him an escape; he uses it as an outlet for stress. He adds that studies have shown flying kites is therapeutic. He says that his stress goes out of the body through the lines of the kite and flies away.
Day is often asked how many kites he has. He has 27 kites, 14 of which are functional and "good to go" all the time. The others are a mixture of classics and antiques that he doesn't fly.
He is also frequently asked if he kite surfs. He kite surfed as a young man; he has "been there and done that." His next adventure is a kite buggy, which is predominately done on the East Coast but made its way to California. It's done in the desert with a 3-wheel buggy on a flat sandy area. It's low impact and easier on the knees.
Day grew up by the beach and would come to the mountains to hike or see the snow. Now that he lives in this community, he says he doesn't miss the beach. He loves SDCE. He doesn't drive a car and hasn't needed to pay for gas for seven years. He drives a 100-percent electric golf cart, and friends take him if he needs to go somewhere to get knick-knacks. He has lived with Patty and Erin Hoye for three years. "If it wasn't for the girls, I couldn't be living the life I am living," says Day. They travel a lot, so he takes care of the dogs, and the girls bring him rocks from all over the world. "It's a win-win for everyone," he says.
He tries to be out in the field by 3 or 4 pm so kids riding the bus home from school can see him fly. He can see their faces looking through the bus windows and wants to bring a smile to them. A few school bus drivers have told Day that the kids love to see him flying in the field. He says a couple of people have told him they are drone operators and could film him flying from above, which he is looking forward to.
Day says that in a perfect world, he would fly every day (sometimes twice a day). He predominately flies solo but has flown with other people and says it's beautiful to watch as the kites crisscross and miss each other. He has had parents stop and ask if he could teach their kids to fly. Day says it's easier to teach kids than adults; a 7-year-old kid could pick it up in 30 minutes because they are enjoying it so much. He adds that flying kites is one of the last things you can do in this world that involves a toy you can operate for free—with the wind.
"I do three things for me every day," says Day. The top three things he loves to do are flying kits, fishing, and lapidary work. These are the things that make him happy. He has worked with tile for 42 years and does all the work himself. It keeps him in shape and out of trouble. He is always happy at work and is a straight shooter, does what he says he is going to do, and doesn't rush.
"Tile is your best investment," says Day. He is knowledgeable in any and all phases of tile and natural stone and has also done 17 pools in SDCE. "I do a lot of repairs with existing material that's falling off showers; it's pretty much a salvation thing. I'd say I excel at it," says Day. He adds that nobody can beat his prices because he has no overhead.
He wants to thank the community for all their support and says he still has to pinch himself to believe it's real. He says he will be flying kites into his golden years and will do it as long as he can walk.
Next time you’re driving in or out of the SDCE and see Day flying his kites high in the sky, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the flight and the man that brings it to the SDCE skies.
Photos by Tiffany Pressler.
