The 1989 Jeep Wrangler Islander

In general, I'm pretty chill. I like doing things with intention, and that's something I want to ingrain into Buena Onda.

A couple years ago I decided to finally fly to LA.

Los Angeles and Miami were my two cities, the ones I thought of when I envisioned Buena Onda. Even the name is inspired by it. In LA you've got that Spanglish mix in the architecture and all over town, and it represented what I envisioned. So I decided to go there.

I took just one bag, my Polaroid, and me.

I intentionally took that trip as a gift for my personal development, and during those days I got to really experience the Buena Onda lifestyle.

The trip wasn't about checking places off a list.

It was about slowing down.

I rented a 1989 Jeep Wrangler Islander. Manual transmission. No technology. Just me, the radio, and the road.

I got to experience LA at my own pace. I drove through Malibu, Mulholland Drive, the Observatory, and plenty of places in between. I took Polaroid shots and tried to stay away from my phone as much as possible, unconsciously enjoying life the analog way.

There was no rush. No notifications. No algorithm telling me what to do next. Just the simple act of being present.

I also did a One Day Neon Art Immersive Class with David and Kazumi Svenson at the Museum of Neon Art, an old form of craftsmanship and art that's slowly disappearing.

That experience pulled me deeper into working with my hands. Being able to touch things. Grabbing the neon. Blowing the glass. Going back to the roots that make us feel alive.

We can be surrounded by technology. I don't hate AI. I use it all the time. I've probably used it to edit videos and write ideas down faster. Technology is an incredible tool.

But tools are different from experiences.

And that trip became an experience I'll never forget.

Looking back, LA was where I was truly living the Buena Onda lifestyle. The lifestyle I want to share with you.

Intentional. Taking the time to play a cassette. Putting on an LP and listening to an entire side. Taking film photos and waiting to see what comes back. Using a Polaroid and saving a moment instead of posting it.

Not because the old way is better.

Because sometimes the slower way helps us pay attention.

That was the moment when I felt more connected to analog culture. That's where the idea for Analog Culture House came from.

Maybe that's why this project exists.

Not because we need another website. Not because we need another newsletter. And definitely not because we need more content.

We already have plenty of that.

This exists as a reminder.

A reminder that some things are worth doing slowly. That making something with your hands still matters. That objects can carry stories. That culture doesn't have to move at the speed of an algorithm. That sometimes the best moments happen when nobody is watching.

Not to get spiritual, but experiences like that remind you to live in the present.

And maybe that's what Buena Onda has always been about.

Being present.
Being intentional.
Enjoying the ride.

If you want to slow down and live in the present with intention,
Welcome
I curate objects, music, and experiences for those who appreciate the Buena Onda lifestyle.

BUENA ONDA, MIAMI, FL