Now I Know I'm Lost Somewhere Outside Of San Francisco
July 17, 2007
For the past couple days I've been trying to figure out how to sum up our trip to San Francisco. In a word: Fabulous. It was more than everything we thought it would be, if that is possible, since we had high expectations. And if you told us that we had to return tomorrow or never again, I think we might both head straight home, pack up everything we could possibly fit in our collective suitcases, and go.
I can't possibly renumerate to you the number of times my thoughts drift back toward our few days there, how often I send silent pleas to God in hopes that Roger will be offered a position soon, how frequently I've found myself on Craigslist looking at apartments, or how many times I've redesigned in my mind's eye what our moving announcements might look like. I am already planning weekend trips to Muir Woods and picnics to nearby beaches and the places we'll take our family when they come to visit. The problem is that we don't even live in California. Yet.
And that's why I want to give you a little piece of advice, Internet: If you've never visited San Francisco, don't. She'll seduce you like a kid in a candy store. She'll overload your senses with the sights and sounds and smells of her city. She'll give you just enough to leave you full and satisfied, but you'll still find yourself wanting a little more. And just when you're starting to get the hang of things – maybe you're finally pronouncing Haight correctly (note to Non-San Franciscans: it rhymes with "late," not "kite") or perhaps you've finally figured out which bus line to take without first asking every driver whether you're getting on the correct vehicle – she'll turn you out to make room for more visitors. As you walk away from her, your shoulders hung low, you'll discover that you're already trying to figure out how quickly you can return.
And perhaps that is the best way I can sum up our trip to San Francisco. We're stuck in limbo, asking ourselves how quickly we'll be able to return.
Comments
if you need one negative about san francisco, i have a word for you: FOG. but...even so, if there's fog on one end of the city (as there was all this past weekend), you can just hop the muni to the other end and sunshine abounds..so..
yeah, i guess not much of a negative...
again, good luck to you both!!
Posted by: mcgee | July 17, 2007 04:37 PM
That would be so awesome if you could move to San Fran. I've lived in Cali my whole life but I've only been to San Fran a couple of times, which was nice. I'm more of a country bumpkin, I guess, and prefer smaller towns. I live about 5 hours south of SF on the Central Coast, about an hour north of Santa Barbara. Any time I go to big cities like L.A. or S.F., I can't wait to get back home to my "small" city of 100,000.
I totally know how you feel, though. My husband and I just got back from 10 days in Florida visiting his family. It was my 3rd trip to Florida. As great as Cali is, and I know how fortunate I am to be able to live here, I can't help but daydream about moving away, to exploring new places, to leave Cali behind with all of its pluses and minuses. Call me crazy, but I'm ready to leave Cali behind, and with it my whole self, family, friends... life. It's kinda scary. But we'll see how things go in the next year or so.
I do hope you and Roger can move here, though. And if you do, I'll do my best to help you feel welcome and give you tips on exploring CA and where all of California's Gold is. It really is a lovely place. :)
(P.S. I'm glad you're back and posting again. I've missed reading your posts.)
Posted by: Chiada | July 17, 2007 04:40 PM
I'm so glad you enjoyed our fair city. There's truly no place in the world like it. Here's me crossing my fingers for you!
Posted by: Leah | July 17, 2007 06:24 PM
RR and I have always wanted to visit there to make our own Sam Spade tour of the city, but alas, the hills. I get motion sickness on hills.
Posted by: JLR | July 17, 2007 07:33 PM
I, too, have been itching lately, feeling the need to pick up, pack up and take off. The last time, I moved to NC for a year and a half... was, overall, a great experience. One in which I learned a great deal about myself, who I want to be and, most importantly, who I do not want to be.
I have been considering multiple locations. I generally think NE but lately have been thinking West... I have never been further west than Colorado and that was a very long time ago.
Seattle, San Francisco and Phoenix have crossed my mind. Recently, with Matt in my life, New Mexico has also entered the running.
I asked Trevor the other day if he wanted to move and he replied positively without any hesitation.
I aske him where he thought we should move and, after mentioning Australia (as this is where the Wiggles are from) he mentioned San Francisco... without any prompting from me.
Who knows where the wind will blow us?! Good luck to you... experience life and different cities while you can. When kids come along, it will be less about jobs and more about school districts and family friendly neighborhoods.
Posted by: Willow | July 17, 2007 07:55 PM
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Posted by: Giselle | July 17, 2007 08:30 PM
It does have a lovely feel...cityish but still small. Housing prices are crazy, but I live where housing is deathly expensive too, and I justify it this way: you can either live somewhere nice or retire somewhere nice. I choose to live here.
Posted by: Suebob | July 17, 2007 10:27 PM
Just follow what you want =)
Posted by: PRETTY IN THE CITY | July 17, 2007 11:32 PM
Of course I take the day off to spend with my visiting parents the day you're in the city and can have lunch. GD. Anyway, the next time you're here I will stalk you. I want to hear everything about your trip and I want you here now, dammit!
Posted by: Jurgen Nation | July 18, 2007 12:57 AM
I just booked tickets to SF yesterday. AM SO FREAKING EXCITED!
Posted by: Heather B. | July 18, 2007 09:00 AM
Heather B.: AM SO FREAKING JEALOUS!
Posted by: chirky | July 18, 2007 09:07 AM
Wow, I can't believe you might be leaving! I'm liking Dallas a lot more since I left my old job in January, but it still doesn't feel like home. I don't think it ever will.
I'm excited for you and Roger that you both loved SF so much. I hope it works out for you!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | July 18, 2007 03:48 PM
Wow I wish you the best of luck I hope everything pans out for you
Posted by: MsRebecca | July 18, 2007 06:53 PM
I'm from San Francisco! *WAILS*
I hate Southern California! *ROCKS BACK & FORTH*
Sending out positive vibes to Roger. And you. ;)
Posted by: Lena | July 18, 2007 09:45 PM
Ah, San Francisco. My favorite city. My husband and I were seduced by her 25 years ago (actually my husband was there when he was a kid and loved it even then). We go every year for at least a long weekend. We daydream constantly about living there while we are visiting. Unfortunately, we have aging parents back here in New Jersey so we haven't made the leap. Maybe someday! If you are free enough now to do it, then you should go now while you can!
Posted by: Mauigirl | July 19, 2007 01:23 PM
I have family in San Francisco and have been there many times, but it is just not my city. I am so surprised that Minneapolis really feels like the right place for me, but I'm glad I found it. I hope that if SF is the right place for you that you get to move there soon!
Posted by: -R- | July 19, 2007 01:37 PM
I'm glad you had a great time. I LOVE living in SF. I moved here from Ireland in 1989 (two weeks before the earthquake). I told my mom that I would try it for a year, and I've been here ever since, 18 years! Now I have a house, a husband (from Michigan), and friends I love, so I'm not going anywhere. I do miss my family though.
Posted by: Annie | July 30, 2007 06:35 PM
Oh my goodness, HP and I honeymooned in San Fran. I remember Muir Woods! Wonderful city. Just wonderful.
Posted by: CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela | August 1, 2007 11:42 AM