A Simpler Life

As you might imagine, I've been having a lot of conversations lately about moving away. Here's the thing. I am a local living here in Silicon Valley. We are a rare breed these days. Born at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, I  grew up in San Carlos and Palo Alto for the most part. Although there was that brief overseas adventure at the American Community School of Beirut during my Junior High years. But that's a whole 'nother story...

The conversations I've been having tend to center on the changes in the fabric of community due to the influx of silicon valley peeps. On one hand, there is a richer tapestry of culture and diversity that enriches life here and really makes the burbs more vibrant and global. But on the other hand, there is this leftover longing for a simpler, smaller community - a place where it doesn't take 70 minutes to drive 12 miles to and from work during morning and evening rush hour. A place where cool little stores don't have to keep dealing with exorbitant rent hikes. And a place where everyday people don't have to deal with off-the-chart rents and housing prices.

Call it nostalgia, but a lot of us locals seem to be feeling it these days.

This longing for a simpler life is really feeding into my escape plans. After conferring with a few folks, I'm going to take a year off and move to the central coast. I'll take the time to decompress from that toxic work environment, develop my photography and my little start up in a comfortable, reasonable atmosphere. As I mentioned earlier, I've narrowed it down to Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. After this year, I'll revisit the larger move. Onward!

You Can Take the Girl out of Silicon Valley...

...but you SO cannot take the Silicon Valley out of the girl.

A great realization has occurred. And I haven't even left yet.

Realization #1:

I thought I might be able to make this leap and strictly be around - how do you say - analog people. To re-inspire and fill up the well of my creative spring.

Well, I can't. I'll just get that out there. I adore that world, I'd love to dive in head first and immerse myself in those magical Maxfield Parrish green analog waters, but I've worked in tech for so long that I absolutely need a little bit of geekiness in my life.

Ok. Duly noted. Moving on...

Back to it!

Oh, happiness. Things are looking up health-wise! Let's just say the doctor is cautiously optimistic, and that's good enough for now : )

So I'm back to enjoying the bliss of being able to focus on photography. And it truly is absolute bliss. But at the same time, I'm excited about slowly putting the framework for my little startup in place. It will be my second startup... makes me all tingly!

Gosh, it's so amazing to be able to make this kind of jump. Sure, it's a scary jump, but it's a good one, nonetheless.

I'll head down to San Luis for a peek around at rentals in a week or so, then maybe a drive out to New York next month, house hunting along the way.

I'm buying boxes tomorrow.

Left Turn

Ok, so this is what I didn't say in my last post. I didn't say that when the flight back to SFO was descending, I got one of those crippling sinus decompression headaches that pretty much feels like a part of your face is being ripped out.

I didn't say that when I still felt awful a week later, I finally went to the doctor and asked him to please find out what the hell was going on (been super sick off and on for the last six months). I didn't say that he ordered a CT scan and found a large mass in my left sinus. The doctor says it looks benign, but I'll find out more on Wednesday.

In any case, it will involve surgery. Which means no flying for some time. Which means, with my (grown) kids on the west coast, I feel I pretty much can't move back east right now. Even though I finally did find the perfect house. And so... I'm recalculating some more.

Moving is still on the agenda. I'm really kind of over the silicon valley thing. I think what I may do after the surgery and treatment, is move to one of my fave places on the central coast (SLO or Santa Barbara) and just rent and chill and do art for a while, till NY or Santa Fe or Portland calls to me and says "come hither!"

I've come to realize my life is FULL of left turns. This does seem to be just one of a series. But that's ok, really. Keeps it interesting...