A Few of My Favorite Things: Friends and Family, Sept 21 – Oct 10, 2011

We’ve had quite a hectic three weeks of non-stop movement as we’ve traversed the wider Bay Area catching up with friends and family. I think we managed to visit with *almost* everyone though there have been a couple of folks we just couldn’t manage to see (really sorry).

It’s been great connecting with people and having in-depth conversations about each person’s life. For most folks, things are just chugging along, though several are concerned about job security. Health-care costs are on the rise again, food prices are high (about the same as New Zealand), the roads are in various states of disrepair, and social services are being drastically cut. Over 70 California State Parks are slated for closure.  One of my friends in the non-profit sector said it was a good year as the company was still operating unlike several other well-known non profits which had closed down.

Life is hard, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. The Bay Area is still one of the best places to live – there are many beautiful aspects, especially the nearby parks and reserves and I’ve been able to get out and do a few good hikes: Mt. Tamalpias, China Camp State Park, and Armstrong Redwoods State Park.

We’ve also managed to stuff ourselves with lots of great food and I fear that a diet will be in my future upon returning to NZ!

I’ve had great fun visiting with all my little friends and bonding over some yoga poses.

And the family….. I’ve spent a lot of time with my 2 year old niece who is just gorgeous (yes, I am biased) and my sister and brother-in-law.

My parents flew out from Florida for a week and we all went up to the Russian River for the weekend where we just hung out, hiked, played tennis, and enjoyed some quality time with each other.

We went apple picking for an afternoon which was fun until some of us had a melt down.

Libran birthdays abound and I’ve had fun celebrating with my fellow Libran friends: Suzy, Manny, Roni, and Sienna.

I am grateful for the time I’m getting to spend with them and it will be sad to say goodbye. But my heart isn’t in San Francisco anymore and I don’t know what I’d do if we had to return. There’s a small part of me that misses the hubbub of city and business life but I don’t think that would be good for my soul. I’m still morphing into a Green Acres girl and not quite finished with developing my horticulture and homesteading skills. Birdsong calls. There’s still work for us to do in New Zealand. But despite the vast ocean that divides us, we will always remain connected to our hommies by the Bay (and elsewhere!)