Au Revoir Pacifica

Today might be Christmas Eve, but it's also the day I move back home after 3 months living with my father's parents. I don't finish work until January 9th, but there is not a single free weekend left before the movers arrive at my folks to pack all my possessions. Thus, after the family holiday party this evening we'll load up my car, my parent's car, with all I have in the basement. And that will be it. It will likely be the last time I'll see my grandparents before I leave. Strange realization. Goodbye goodbyes.

I have loved living by the ocean these past few months. Before darkness took over the evening it was always the highlight of my day driving down from the top of the hill into Pacifica with the Pacific ocean stretching out infinitely.

No filters here, no Photoshop - it's simply perfect. 

After I received my formal offer and invite to DC, I tried to make a point to stop here in the mornings and afternoons when I got off early. Though I'm sure I'll live by other oceans, in other places, I don't want to have taken this one for granted.

Thankfully I've got one or two more ocean related excursions planned before I depart (one which might give me my fill of oceans for a long time) so today isn't really goodbye. But there is something about the beach you've been acquainted with your entire life (even when your father would yell when you got more than a few inches into the sea foam) and a city that will forever and always be associated with both sets of grandparents who lived there and memories of the brief years you lived there yourself as a child.

I'll remember the eucalyptus trees, the golf course with my Shirley Temples at the bar, the wooden playground down the street, picking flowers in the front yard for crowns, playing dress-up, doll house parts, classic movies, countless holidays. Hopefully today won't be the last one. 

Through The Years

Judy Garland has been absolutely reducing me to tears and small sobs when she comes on the radio.

I don't think this is just me, but I have several favorite Christmas movies which aren't Christmas movies at all. Little Women is one. Meet Me in St. Louis is another. Almost purely for the scene where Esther sings, "...have yourself a merry little Christmas" to Tootie. This year, more than any previous, I'm sympathizing with them and their sadness over leaving so much of what they love.

Someday soon, we all will be together

If the Fates allow

Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

I suppose I've got to make it as merry as possible now, while I can. But maybe I'll be lucky and manage to get home from country X every year for Christmas. I'd take every other year. Or even some years. 10-20 years seems like a long time to miss Christmas. Lots of muddling. 

Note - I am thrilled about the new job, and leaving - but that doesn't mean it isn't tinged with sorrow.

Maps at SFO

When I fly out of SFO and I find myself in Terminal 2 there is always a incredible exhibit just after security. Earlier this year it was vintage board games. This past weekend it was a collection of maps of San Francisco from the David Rumsey collection. It's pretty fantastic.

One of my favorite taglines from the description is: "San Francisco was at once improbable and inevitable."

Or the following: 

"The water is so scarce that it is scarcely sufficient for the few families that reside at the Presidio...timber is found at a distance of twelve or fourteen leagues, and pasturage for the little stock of the garrison is only found at a distance of five or six leagues. Therefore, I am convinced that the worst place or situation in California is that of San Francisco for the establishment of such a villa...:
- Don Pedro de Alberni, in his report to the Viceroy on July 1st, 1796. 

Contrasted with:

"Few cities int he world can vie with San Francisco either in beauty or in the natural advantages of her situation; indeed there are only two places in Europe--Constantinople and Gibraltar--that combine an equally perfect landscape with what may be called an equally imperial position."
- James Bryce, writing in American Commonwealth, 1889.

The bay looks chaotic.

This one is an insurance map breaking down the entire city block by block and noting the sizes and make-up of each building on the block. It'd be pretty interesting to peruse.

Love the title on this one Paradise Found.

I'm pretty certain one of those red brick buildings by the docks is the building I currently work in. Located right below the hill (not quite a cliff anymore) in one of the old ice houses that used to sit on the edge of the docks before the peninsula was built out. 

LA trip and BF Weds

Admission - I had not planned to go to my lovely friend BFs wedding. Despite all those months when he let me use his washer and dryer weekly, along with feeding and entertaining me. Add the fact that there was an invitation mix up. 

Then last week BF sent an email out to A, J, and I persuasively making the case for our attendance. Plane tickets were purchased soon thereafter. 

Piggybacking the trip with a visit to my friend H's made for a more relaxing weekend than I've had in a long time.

H & I at the beach.

Perfect Pine-cone ornament favors.

The venue was lovely - all the arches. 

Hot chocolate!!!! 

J, N, me, B, & A. 

The expression on L's face! 

Flying never gets old.

Returning marked the beginning of the end, this week I'll book my flight to DC as well as schedule the movers who will come pack all my belongings and ship them away. 

Customs

Big News! I got a new job...in September. Thus the lack of posts over the last several months. Bigger News! I've quit that job.

Back in August, more like July, I decided I wanted to find something different for a few months while I waited to hear from the U.S. Dept. of State. I was very lucky, the first temp company I met with, got me the first and only interview I had (or needed) for a perfect position. I new it was perfect at the interview. I took this photo right afterwards and it exactly reflects how I felt about the position and the entire situation.

My grandparents agreed to let me take over their basement to facilitate a move down to the Bay Area. Working at Williams-Sonoma was exciting enough on it's own. The building and location are fantastic.

My commute is filled with all sorts of views. Bringing some new variety each day.

As you might expect sometimes it does feel as though you are working in a Pottery Barn catalog.

But, I haven't said anything about the actual job yet. I've been working in the Customs Operations and Compliance department. It's been fantastic. I've learned all kinds of random information about customs and trade policies. Mostly I've been dealing with Australian regulations on the importation of food. I find it really interesting and I'm sure there will be several things I've learned that may come in handy one day while working for the Foreign Service. And if there is ever a chance to do it again I'd love to. If I wasn't already going to work for the federal government I'd seriously consider becoming a customs broker.

The other wonderful thing about my brief stint down in the bay has been this:

At this point I'm a little skeptical that the wide world is going to provide many locations that will rival what I've been experiencing every day. Perhaps that's why I take so much time to notice, because I've known I'd only be here full-time for a limited time. While my initial contract was only set to last three months my boss informed me half way through that they would like to keep me there until it was time for me to leave. This job has been a blessing in innumerable ways. I almost want to stay...almost.