Committed to the City

Earlier this week in my ongoing battle with San Francisco city parking, I heard my phone alarm sounding. I flipped the phone open and read the alarm title: "Move the car!!" I silenced the alarm and moved the parked car from one side of the street to the other. I found a spot in between two driveways. I pulled the parking break into gear, checked that I was close to the curb, locked the doors and returned to the house to finish getting ready for work. I thought it was fine that the tail end of my car obstructed the driveway by few inches since the driveway was so wide and the steering wheel of the car parked in the garage could have easily been turned 20 degrees to move around my car.

After my dinner shift at the restaurant I rode the Muni home. I stepped out of the rail car and glanced in the direction where I had parked. When I didnt see the car, I hoped that my memory of my most recent parking location had failed me. I hoped that I confused this spot with the place I had parked last . I hoped it was stolen rather than towed because I knew it would be expensive to get it back. I told myself I would worry about it in the morning.

In the morning I called the city parking and transportation department. Sure enough they had the car at the impound lot. (This is an all too common occurrence in the city.) When I asked, "how much will it cost me to retrieve the car?" The woman on the phone replied "That will be three hundred and seventy three dollars maám" My face went blank and I stuttered a response asking if the woman was serious. She was serious.

I intended on selling the car after getting settled here, and this was the catalyst for me to do so. Immediately following the phone call I posted it for sale on Craig's list. I couldn't deal with this and I immediately wanted to be rid of the burden of owning a car in the city. Within 10 minutes my phone was ringing with interest and inquiries in the advertisement.

When I went to pick up the car at the impound lot, I took a number and waited my turn. The woman behind the glass partition called my number. She took my information and hacked at the keyboard with her long hot pink finger nails. With her eyes fixed on the computer screen, she said "The total is three hundred and seventy three dollars" I turned my head away, eyes squinted shut, and slid my American Express card across the counter bracing myself for the impact as I heard it being swiped.

The car was sold to the first person who looked at it. I am relieved to be free of worry about parking spots, tickets, towing, insurance payments, gas and so on. The sale of the car solidified my official commitment to the city and my decision to live here. Its a big step for a comitma-a-phobic person such as myself. It feels strange not to have a car since I have consistently had a car for the last 10 years, and yet its wonderfully liberating! I traded my car keys for an unlimited pass on the Muni. I am officially an urban dweller!!

"Californiatism"

Its a typical foggy day in San Francisco. The air is filled with moisture and as we walk, Derby and I become decorated with beads of dew. We are both adjusted to the sounds of the neighborhood. As the muni glides by neither of us react, we are unfazed and I no longer hear it in my sleep.

Last weekend Derby and I rode the muni (its dog friendly!!) down to the pier to meet with a friend and peruse the weekly farmers market. It was a gorgeous day- bright, sunny, and warm (64 degrees). The vendors at the market were selling fresh produce, local honey, eggs, dried fruits, jams, brightly colored flowers, art, jewelry and so on. We walked around and enjoyed the sunshine at the pier.

Afterward we took the bikes out of the garage and rode 2 miles from my house down to golden gate park. We peddled all around the park. Golden Gate park is similar to New York City's central park, (of course I think golden gate park is nicer). It has tennis courts, soccer fields, biking and hiking trails, lakes and ponds, a small sanctuary for bison, frisbee courses, a golf course, a museum, rose gardens, open fields for picnic areas, everything to enjoy the great outdoors. The park has so many beautiful trees, its lush greenery is a treat for the eyes.

The following day my roommate and I took all three of the dogs down to the beach to let them run and play. The beach here is dog friendly! The dogs are supposed to be kept on leash, but no one abides by that rule. The dogs ran free and were so happy. Derby played with other dogs that were on the beach, he ran, dug in the sand, and swam. I love living so close to the beach, and so does Derby.

California has so much to offer. I am very excited about exploring my new backyard. I am eager to take many trips. The list is long and includes: napa valley and wine country, lake Tahoe, Yosemite national park, Death Valley, Joshua tree national park, Kings Canyon, camping at Big Sur, activist rallies, music festivals, and on and on. Outdoor opportunities are abundant and I am loving it! Yesterday I crossed one off the list. I loaded Derby into the car and went to pick up my friend. We drove 30 minutes outside the city to nearby Muir woods to hike and see the beautiful redwood trees.

We crossed the impressive and iconic golden gate bridge and the city behind us became smaller in the rear view mirror. When we arrived at Muir woods we were so excited. We chose the long trail up to the top for the ocean view. It was spectacular and we marveled at the trees, the trail, the animals, the waterfalls and streams along the way. The towering redwood trees are wise and mystical. I loved them.

Its a wonderful feeling to be so grateful to live here. Its similar to patriotism, but a feeling of patriotism to the state not necessarily the
country. I dont know that there is a word to describe a connection to a state in specific. I will coin the term
"Californiatism" and use it to describe this feeling I have. This deep
love, connection, and pride for the state of California. I feel like I belong here. My ideals are embraced and reinforced. The liberalism (specifically in
San Francisco) is palpable and I eat it up. I have had so many experiences and encounters here that have made me smile, laugh out loud, and cry tears of joy about living in this great city.

I sit on the muni and the announcement about fare increases is in English, Spanish, and Chinese. The labels on my recycling, compost, and garbage bins are in these three languages. The fact that I have a recycling and compost bin in addition to the garbage bin- is amazing! People from all walks of life freely express themselves. The array of cultures and people that live here is wonderful. Distinct neighborhoods and characters, and yet everyone blends together. I watch couples interact openly in public, gay couples together on the muni display affection and are regarded as any other couple- its a beautiful thing and has moved me to tears on more than one occasion.

Needless to say I am very happy to be here. It is by far the best decision I have ever made, and one I should have made a long time ago.

Two weeks together

Today marks two weeks since I moved to San Francisco. Its a funny feeling, sort of like being away for college. Its strange to be living so far away from "home", family, friends and all that Ive known for so long. Its also very refreshing to have invoked so much change in my life and to have independence again being self sufficient. I am proud of myself for the courage it has taken to start over somewhere so far away, with no one I know.

Another lovely day

I am on the muni once again. I feel so urban as a passenger of public transportation and I love it. I am finding my way around and feeling more at home with each passing day. I am en route home after my shift at the restaurant. The day light shinning and the weather is beautiful. I hop off the muni in front of my house and open the front door to all three dogs greeting me enthusiastically, tails wagging. I leash each dog and open the gate, my personal slay team of three. Off we go for our daily beach side stroll.

Reality in San Francisco

A week and a day have passed since I moved here. I awake and still I am in disbelief that I am living in San Francisco. I find myself looking at the California license plates for reassurance that I am not dreaming- that it is in fact a reality. I hear the local weather announced and the meteorologist helps to confirm this; "Good morning San Francisco!, today's local forecast is sunny and clear with a high of 57 degrees..." I smile to myself as these words fall upon my ears.

I walk out the front door dressed for my first day of work: a crisp white collared button down shirt, and pressed black pants. The MUNI (railway car) stop is at the end of the block. I wait patiently with strangers. During the 30 minute ride I study the menu and commit to memory "5 ounces of grilled ahi tuna tossed in soy ginger sesame vinaigrette served over sliced tempura Japanese eggplant topped with papaya, carrot, cilantro and mint leaves.." My distraction leads to people watching and daydreaming as I stare out the window. The sunshine pours through the streaky Muni car windows and reveals gorgeous vistas in each direction I look. Its a great day to be alive in San Francisco!

West Coast Love

It has been another amazing day here in San Francisco... I woke up early and walked the four blocks down to the ocean from my front door. Along the way shop keepers pulled window shades up, unlocked their doors, and hung "yes we're open" signs. Strangers on the street exchanged salutations and pleasantries, myself included. As I walked and admired the moment, I laughed aloud to myself out of sheer elation that is bubbling up from inside like freshly popped champagne. The culmination of a dream has me euphoric. I am FINALLY following my heart and it has given me a feeling of rebirth.

Derby and I started off the morning with an ocean side jog. The air was crisp and cool against my skin. The pacific waters were cheering us on and the mountains in the distance enticing us forward. After the jog- I took my road bike out for a spin. Once again ocean side, admiring the Pacific. The visual stimulation is wonderful. Its such a beautiful horizon. Afterward Derby and I walked to the local gardening & hardware store to pick up some nails. I hung up a few things to make the space feel more like home.

Later I got dressed in professional attire and printed an updated copy of my resume. I hopped on the Muni (the rail way transportation system) with my roommate and rode the 30 minutes to downtown. She took me to the restaurant where she works and I had an interview with the manager. Its a busy upscale restaurant in the financial district called "The Cosmopolitan" www.thecosmopolitancafe.com I got the job and start on Tuesday! Im happy to have work, and very pleased with my good luck streak and how beautifully things are falling into place for me.

Im adjusting to city life here. Things are so refreshingly different. Everything is new, and the novelty is exciting! I am getting used to the sound of the Muni as it runs directly in front of the house and I can hear it in my sleep. Derby doesnt seem to mind the sound of it at all. I have not driven my car in days which is so nice.

Driving here is confusing. There are lots of one way streets, construction everywhere, and Im also constantly reminding myself of the adjustment to my mental compass, as the ocean is now West and no longer East. There is also the famous "San Francisco left" which means making three right turns in order to equal a left turn because there are so many streets where left turns are prohibited. Ive had to get in the car to move it from one place to another, adhering to the street cleaning schedules, one hour parking, and so on. I have programed a new alarm in my phone titled "move the car!" and set it accordingly in attempt to avoid what has been described as "inevitable parking tickets".

I am looking forward to all the new opportunities here and I am so happy to be in San Francisco!!

Peace, Love, and California!

the Journey West

This past week I was en route from Wellington Florida to San Francisco California. My car was packed full with clothes, a few picture frames, Derby's belongings, my bikes, and of course my beloved Derby-dog. I picked up my friend and travel partner, Reese. And the road trip began! We drove through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Texas, Texas, Texas, and more Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally California.

It was an adventure that I will always remember. It was a wonderful experience to drive across the country east coast to west with my fabulous friend and fabulous dog. We watched the landscape slowly change, like a time elapse photo scene. Each day we drove about 600 miles and stopped to take pictures, walk Derby, enjoy the view and of course to spend the night at hotels along the way.

The road trip was a complete success. We were very fortunate that nothing went a rye. The bikes stayed in tact, nothing broke, the weather was good, the car was great, we were safe and all went smoothly. Reese was a map genius and her atlas book was a wonderful resource.

My favorite part of the trip by far was driving up the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco. That is a life altering experience to be had! The most beautiful scenery for miles and miles, and with each moment it somehow became more beautiful. No words or pictures can do justice to this place. It is something I highly recommend to do in your lifetime. The roaring Pacific waters on the left and lush green mountains on the right. The highway snakes around and hugs the mountains tightly. With each bend and each mile the scenery slowly changes from valleys with small farms and cows adorning the green grasses, to vineyards of sweet California grapes, fields of artichokes and lush vegetation, wildflowers, elephant seals and wildlife, rugged coastline, giant redwood trees, forest, and wide open spaces that give the urge to run and frolic like a child.

When we finally arrived in San Francisco after long days of driving we pulled up to the house where I had planned to rent a room. Because of the way my trip went when I visited California, I was not able to secure a place in December. I first visited San Francisco and then San Diego. I found a place I really liked in San Fran, and I told the landlord of that house, George, that I had yet so explore San Diego and did not want to a make decision until I had seen both cities. I contacted George when I decided that San Diego was not for me and unfortunately the place had been rented. I frantically searched the internet to find a place to live, but it was challenging to do from Florida. After weeks of searching I found a place that I thought would suit my needs and George offered to check it out for me since he felt badly that it didnt work out for me to rent from him. When I got the green light from George, I made a verbal agreement with the landlord to rent the room and I packed my things for the move.

Upon arrival at the house- Reese and I unloaded the bikes and walked into the room that I was supposed to live in. It was a dirty cold converted garage cluttered with junk. The room was dark and moldy, with wood paneling floor to ceiling, and a tiny window. It was not livable. The rest of the house was also dirty and cluttered with junk. It looked like something straight out of the A & E series "Hoarders." There were dolls, mermaid ornaments, lord of the rings collectibles, figurines, stacks of papers, piles of random things on the floor and on top of the kitchen cabinets, and nick nacks everywhere. It was creepy, dark, and gross. It was a nightmare to say the least. Reese and I looked at each other with an unspoken understanding of "WHAT THE HELL??!!!!"

We met the landlord, who gave me the keys and we left the house to plan our exit strategy. We immediately started making phone calls to figure out plan "B". Luckily we found a place to stay for the night with a family friend's daughter and then the search began. We frantically made calls, looked through advertisements, and everyone that I knew out here (all friends of friends that I had yet to meet) was posting on facebook and making calls on my behalf. I had appointments set up for the next day and was emotionally distraught. I felt like a foolish gypsy idiot.

The first house I looked at was a group of four girls that attend San Francisco State University and one of the roommates, Maggie, was subleasing her room. The house is 4 blocks from the beach, has a fenced in yard, and two small dogs that belong to one of the roommates. The girls were nice and the dogs all got along. It worked out brilliantly and I took the room.

Reese and I went back to the original house to retrieve the bikes we left there from the night before and the mattress I had delivered. We went in and snuck around like we were stealing artwork from a museum. We made a clean brake with all my things loaded onto the car and drove to the new house to drop off my things. Luckily I had not signed a lease agreement or given the landlord a deposit yet so I was home free, pun intended. I moved in the next day and everything fell into place.

I spent today unpacking my things, hanging out with my roommates a bit, walking the dogs at the beach, grocery shopping and settling in. I am eager to make new friends, and begin my new life and new adventures here in San Francisco. I am sure I will face more trying times, but I am confident that if I prevailed the crazy situation that I stumbled upon when I arrived- than I will be ok!

I am happy to be here pursuing my dream of life in California!!! And the journey begins!