Transition

It's another rainy night in San Francisco as I sit down to write. From the comfort of my (oh so comfy!) polk-a-dot pajamas I can hear tires splashing through the intersection outside. It will only be a few more weeks before Doug and I embark on our next journey, beyond the city we have called home. What a long, strange trip it has been, to borrow a famous phrase. For most of my three years here I have busily fussed over the claustrophobia of the city, the difficulty of basic tasks, the cost of living, and the God-awful weather. Seriously, I have never been so cold. But despite all of my fuss, here I sit listening to the rain and feeling sad it is coming time to go.

My San Francisco nostalgia has been creeping up for a few weeks now. It began with my potential job offer in Sacramento. Despite my lofty talk of having a yard, walls without strangers on the other side and finally having basic amenities enjoyed by most (laundry in the building, anyone?), Doug and I found ourselves searching for housing downtown. We got excited when a potential apartment or condo was next to light rail. We got excited when organic groceries were in walking distance. Most importantly, we were not excited about having a free-standing home. It seemed so lonely. 

I suppose this shouldn't surprise me. Despite the bone-chilling wind and fog of the ironically-named inner sunset district, I have enjoyed stellar cuisine (the likes Fresno has never seen) and a backyard in Golden Gate Park. Not to mention our most recent discovery: the botanical gardens. Within five minutes of walking (downhill nonetheless) I can flash my drivers license and get in free to the most beautiful garden in Northern California. Eager to enjoy the warm sunshine on Sunday, Doug and I took a birthday (and, I suppose, Easter) stroll through the various garden plots. The camelias were on full display, as were the most incredible iris flowers. It wasn't long before we settled into a sunward bench among the knee-high irises to enjoy a few quiet minutes of pleasure reading. It was a beautiful day I will not soon forget, but it left me sad that it is coming time to go...

An Iris

The view from our bench :)

A bridge in the Redwood Grove

A field of Poppies in the California Native Garden