California, Here We Come/Came/Cometh?
April has been and gone and an appalling long period of time has passed since we’ve posted an update. So here we are, in the throes of packing suitcases for our first trip home – naturally, the best time to maniacally bust out some musings about the last couple of months in SF.
There’s a good chance that I’ve talked about this in previous blogs but living and working in SF has simultaneously been the most rewarding and challenging adventure we’ve been on. (I think the perpetual smell of weed in this city is inadvertently slowing down my brain, so apologies here on out for any repetitiveness.)
In July last year, I would never have envisioned that when we moved here for George’s incredible career opportunity and adventure that I would have an equally edifying and eye-opening opportunity – with the added bonus of unleashing my inner (and frankly, outer) feminist, project manager, debater and activist.
At the risk of these blog-posts sounding like a picture perfect highlights reel, let’s be frank – there are days where the spreadsheets make me go bonkers, a change in the week’s direction happens quickly enough to give me whiplash, or my personal favorite – the ongoing trepidation that today might just be the day the presumptive Republican nominee (He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-But-We-Should-Name-The-Toupee-At-Least) will actually respond to your tweets haranguing him to commit to paid family leave, unleashing hordes of his supporters on your Twitter feed.
But then on a Friday in May, two incredible women go on one of the country’s biggest networks, in the first ever bipartisan interview of its kind, to tell their powerful stories and call for Presidential action on paid family leave.
Then, you remember what you’re fighting for. You remember why you’re buried in spreadsheets even though your laptop keeps crashing just as you finish the week’s book-keeping. You remember why you’re researching fundraising opportunities while trying to finish fixing the backend of your website. You remember why you want to come to work every day. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s fun. But because of this:
Spreadsheets crashing your computer is promptly put into perspective (and quickly forgotten).
End Exhibit A. A.k.a Why Nat Hasn’t Had Time To Blog Since March.
CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME/WE CAME?
California is a great place to live if you like being outdoors in any capacity – whether you’re a devout tree-hugger, or your idea of ‘nature’ is a rooftop bar with plants. Since we moved here we’ve encountered 2 weeks of solid rain, the very rare usage of our heater and of course winds that force you to put your beautiful dress collection right next to the high-heels #gatheringdust
But fear not, pending travellers – for if you get sick of the sunshine, cloudless skies and warm but mild temperatures of the city, merely drive across any one of the three bridges (Golden Gate – Oakland Bay – San Rafael)…
An hour’s drive north: George went surfing in the Pacific, while I got to enjoy the beautiful beach town of Bolinas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHfVK2DVL1/
A 90 minute train-ride south gets you in front of some of the biggest names in tech #Arianna #fangirl.
A 55 minute flight allows you to explore the sights of Springfield, or get your wizarding nerd on, with cousins over Greek Easter weekend (#butterbeer is okay during Lent, right?)
Three-quarters of an hour in an eastbound direction and you might just find yourself amidst a sea of Greek music, souvlaki and Nutella-doused loukoumades.
Or, for the truest homebodies, just a mere 10 minute wander down to Golden Gate Park on a sunny weekend and the sheer amount of Lycra may surprise you (or not…). And in case you’re wondering whether you should ever do a triathlon – a sunny 5km run, a yoga class and a spot of meditation was not a bad foray into the sport. I think I’ll still leave the Ironmanning/womaning to the rest of y’all.
As I sit here at the airport waiting to board the plane for our first visit home in 9 months, I am tempted to reflect, think about how George and I have grown — individually and together, in our careers and our hobbies etc. Or I could just conclude with the segment you’ve all been waiting for:
No self-respecting Australian would: The SF Edition
Use an esky for coconut water
Drink a soup bowl full of milk
Come on guys, it’s Gyros.
That’s it for now. See y’all on the other side (of the Pacific!)
