Tourist to Tour Guide...

I have officially been in San Francisco long enough to have visitors! I have been entrusted with the role of showing people around my new backyard. I have evolved from tourist to tour guide.

My dear friend Emily came to visit and stayed with me for two weeks. During Emily's two week stay our wonderful mutual friend, Reese, came to stay for five days as well. It was so nice to have the company of good friends.

Among the must see attractions of San Francisco, we went to local farmer's markets, The Golden Gate Bridge, The Fisherman's Wharf, The Pier, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown, downtown, all the neighborhoods and districts, parks, the beach, hiking at Mount Diablo and the Marin Headlands, nightlife, restaurants, and most memorable was our participation in San Francisco's 99th annual Bay to Breakers.

Bay to Breakers is a 12k race through the city as well as giant street parade of public intoxication, and costumed chaos of over 60,000 participants. The name Bay to Breakers comes from the fact that the race begins downtown adjacent to the San Francisco Bay and cuts westward through the city to the finish line at the Great Highway, adjacent to the Pacific where the "breakers" crash onto the beach.

The footrace starts early in the morning with registered participants that run for time and competition. Later the unregistered participants join the festivities in vulgar, extreme, and hilarious creative costumes, and some without, as the race is known for its many nude participants. Major city streets are shut down to allow the streaming crowd of city dwellers to mill through, wreaking havoc upon the town. It was one giant hanging cannabis cloud. Bay to Breakers makes Mardi Gras look like the Mickey Mouse Club.

People start drinking early in the morning and are soon rowdy, rapt, and trekking through San Francisco's streets with bottles of liquor in hand, pushing shopping carts full of beer, floats decorated extravagantly, and of course hauling kegs and sound systems blaring music. Reese, Emily and myself were dressed as "3 blind mice" and joined a group of my friends as we took to the streets at 9am with bottles of Vodka, Whisky, Champagne, and beer. We were drunk by 10am and hungover at 3pm. We marched the streets pointing out all of the madness, taking pictures with the wild costumes, laughing, and through out the event had a series of meeting up with friends and separating through the dense crowd.

It was incredible to share my first Bay to Breakers experience with two of my best friends, and of course the 59,997 others! I cant wait for next year's Bay to Breakers and the many other events that San Francisco is known for! Next month's event on my list: the two day long Gay Pride Parade!

Morning Run

Each day is a new beginning and the freshness of the morning brings a smile to my face. Derby and I reached the corner of Taraval Street and the Great Highway and I initiated the jog. Derby gladly trotted along. Sun shinning, people out biking, running, walking their dogs, starting their day.

We crossed the street and headed down to the beach. The sand cushions my step and I love the sight of my shoeprint and Derby's paw print in the sand together. Stones in hues of brown, gray, and black, and sand dollars scattered on the seashore. Surfers with boards tucked under their arms enter the water like a battlefield. The steady lulling sound of waves rolling in. Birds dance back and forth with the water as it creeps up and pulls back.

Derby's instinct whispers in his ear "chase the birds!" and he takes off running full speed after a flock of Snowy Plovers. The birds scatter and regroup further away. We run together happy and free like children without a care in our worlds.

Training Ride

Of the many opportunities in San Francisco, physical fitness activities are abundant to say the least. On a recent walk home from the beach I saw a sign in a store front. It was for an upcoming bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise awareness for AIDS.

It is an annual ride, and this will be the 9th year of its existence. I immediately went online to find out more about this amazing event. I had a lot of questions and read through the website in its entirety. My eyes were twinkling as I read about the 7 day ride spanning 545 miles of the California Coastline. I envisioned myself as a biker on the road amongst a pack of many, peddling forward for a great cause.

I called the organization with a list of questions I had beyond the FAQ section of the website. I was encouraged to participate in a group training ride to help me make a decision. I was eager to participate, but hesitant of the pre-requisites. In order to participate each rider must raise $3,000 dollars, train intensely, take a week off work, I would have to find a trustworthy person to watch Derby, buy all of the bike gear, and I was not sure if the road bike that I have, circa 1970, is suitable for such a ride. The event takes place in June and I was not sure that I have enough time to train, fundraise, buy a new bike and all the gear.

I picked a training ride off the calendar of events and was eager to challenge myself and test out my road bike as it was the first long bike ride on it. I had the local bike shop give it a tune up and replace the brake pads.

Early Saturday morning before the sun peaked over the horizon my alarm buzzed and I rolled over to silence it. I was awake and excited for the group training ride. I arrived at the group meet up spot, signed a waiver, took a course map, listened carefully to the rules and explanation of hand signals and stretched with the group.

I rode with the group training leaders and they coached me and another new biker. They explained in detail how and when to change gears. It was the first time I used the gears, since riding in Florida doesn’t require much shifting!

The 45 mile ride was breathtakingly beautiful. We crossed the Golden Gate bridge, rode through Sausalito (a town that looks just like the Amalfi Coast of Italy), then the Camino Alto Hills which were very challenging and had my quadriceps burning in no time, through quaint towns that look like Swiss Villages, with names like Larkspur, Ross, Tiburon, and Fairfax. The rolling hills were physically and emotionally challenging.

Winding roads revealed California's raw beauty and intensified my love for this gorgeous state. It was a great way to experience and sightsee my backyard. Finishing this challenging ride was a very rewarding accomplishment for me. I met very inspiring people who are return participants in the annual event. The ride leaders were encouraging, motivating and very positive.

I was happy to meet more wonderful people involved in a great cause! I am elated with the endless opportunities of my life in California! Although I will not be participating in the AIDS life cycle ride this year, I would like to do so next year and or participate in the organization's ride through Napa Valley in October which is only 200 miles as opposed to the 545 miles to Los Angeles.

Puzzle Pieces of My Life

As time goes on I am settling in and establishing my life in San Francisco. Slowly I am building my niche. I am putting together the pieces to create a balance that brings me happiness.

Recently I reintroduced the fitness “piece of the puzzle” to my life. I completed my first 10k race last weekend. Early in the morning when everything was quiet and serene I got on my bike and peddled down the Great Highway (the road that runs parallel to the ocean). My fascination and love for the ocean is satisfied as I gazed onto the rolling waves. The epic and roaring Pacific Ocean is a constant visual stimulus.

I arrived at the starting point of the race and locked up my bike. I checked in, pinned on my race number and found a place to stretch before the race began. The course took the participants on a trail over looking the ocean, through heaps of wildflowers and up a winding path with stair cases, and signs indicating the coyotes. As the dirt path curved and the tree line became sparse, there in the distance stood the Golden Gate Bridge in all her glory, an assuring sign that I am not dreaming- I am in fact living in San Francisco.

I ran faster towards the bridge, my personal pot of gold at the end of my rainbow. The race was challenging as I am not accustomed to hills and inclines. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny and the music piping through my headphones kept my pace steady. The feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction as people clap and cheer and a finish line is crossed were a wonderful high.

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.