Sometimes it feels that we have lived in San Francisco for years - until someone from home says, "My stars! California? How'd you end up plum over there?"I'm not exaggerating. When I called to change my address with the school system I worked for last year, I was the talk of the office for the afternoon! And I was reminded of just how lucky I am to be living this lifestyle. The past week has been so busy that I've barely had time to write, but I wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know our plans.
Ted interviewed with a hospital in Olympia, Washington, and was offered a position there, which we accepted. Olympia is an hour and a half north of Portland, an hour south of Seattle, and an hour and a half west of Mt. Rainier, so we will be near two big cities and plenty of recreational opportunities! Portland hails itself as the city of beer, books, and bikes, Seattle is known as the rock and coffee capitol of the US, and at 14, 110 feet, Mt. Rainier is the precursor for Americans who want to climb Everest, so we should have plenty to keep us busy! Ted will finally be near some fly fishing streams again, and I will have the opportunity to learn to sail after spring thaw, one of the many items on my "Things To Do Before I Die" list. We move at the end of February, and Ted starts his new position on February 27.
What will we do with our last month here, you might ask? Here is a rundown of some of our plans for the next month. We're planning to go to Sonoma with our friends from Chicago this weekend, hike in Ano Nuevo State Reserve to see the Elephant seals up close and personal, backpack for three days in Point Reyes National Seashore, see Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz in concert (yes, Aerosmith is still touring), and go snowshoeing in Lake Tahoe. My dad is coming to visit for a week, and we're going to drag him to all our favorite sites along with some ones we haven't yet seen, like the particle accelerator near Stanford, the satellite dish on Woodland road, and the NASA facility at Moffett field. Don't worry, Dad, we'll actually let you relax a few days too!
We're finding it is harder to leave our home here than we thought it would be when we first began this journey. Clam chowder at Fisherman's Wharf, sunsets over the rocks at Rodeo Beach, light illuminating the Golden Gate Bridge, sea lions in Santa Cruz, rocky cliffs along Hwy 1, bustling streets, and new friends are just a few things we will miss when we leave. We have grown up a little here, have learned to be more self-confident, learned to enjoy life to the fullest, and learned that adventure can happen anywhere, anytime. Though we have only lived here six months, they have been a full and beautiful six months, and they have tied us to this place in a way we never expected. So, I leave a part of my heart in San Francisco, though I look forward to our new adventures in Olympia. Wish us luck!
By: Rebecca
Photo By: Ted
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