I am not leaving my heart in San Francisco.

1999. My college roommate Debbie and I took the obligatory Spring Break road trip from Seattle all the way to Tijuana and back. San Francisco was our first stop and love at first sight. I had never felt like that for a city before. The Victorian houses, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, even Fisherman's Wharf. It was magical, and I thought the feelings were mutual, she loved me back. When I returned home our room was transformed into a shrine. Posters of the bridge, a framed map of the city, framed pictures of us around town. Smitten. I knew one day we would be together.
2006. A job opportunity arose at our corporate office in Oakland. I immediately applied, got the position and packed my bags. I had been living in Seattle for almost 9 years. I was ready for a change. Seattle and I would remain friends, but we had grown apart.
San Francisco is definitely a different city to visit than it is to inhabit. Our relationship has been tumultuous. Roller coaster. Manic-depressive.
So now the list. The good and the bad, the love and the hate, the discoveries and the things best left hidden.

What I learned and loved in San Francisco

• Yelp How did I ever know where to go before I discovered this website?
• Vietnamese sandwiches (Banh mi). The combination of meat, cilantro, shredded carrots, jalapenos and crusty bread? Divine, especially when it's $3.
• Individually brewed coffee, aka Blue Bottle. Snobby? Maybe.
• Sonoma is way better than Napa.
• The Tenderloin is one of the best neighborhoods to hang out in, don't let anyone tell you different (Bourbon and Branch, Rye, Great American Music Hall, etc).
• I'm not a hipster, but I wish I was.
• Local is better (veggies, crafts, businesses).
• Potrero Hill has the best weather and the most parking of any neighborhood in the city, and what I will miss most about living here.
• Walking is my favorite mode of transportation.
• SCRAP.
• Olive oil ice cream at Picco.
• Oakland.
• Free concerts.
• I still love the Giants after all these years and nothing is better than watching a game with a dish of nachos and a hot dog in AT&T Park. What a view.
• I'm part foodie.

What I learned and disliked in San Francisco

• Horrible drivers. I'm talking the worst I have encountered. No one uses their blinkers, and it's ok to get in the lane next to you even though there's a car (me) right beside you.
• Horrible parkers. Everyone double parks in this city. I actually missed that question on my DMV test because I didn't know it was illegal. Everyone (except me) does it.
• Traffic every day on the Bay Bridge (are you sensing a trend here?).
• Flaky people that ditch out on plans at the last minute.
• Over the top liberalism. "Open minded" but only if you believe what they do.
• Protests for anything and everything. (Prop 8, the war, the Olympic torch, cutting down trees, Anti Israel, budget cuts, blah blah blah)
• Street cleaning.
• The amount of homeless and crazies.
• Fisherman's Wharf sucks.
• Chinatown sucks (especially riding on buses that go through Chinatown).
• It takes FOREVER to get anywhere in this city.
• Rent is a whole paycheck.
• Forget about dating or finding an eligible, single, bearded man that doesn't wear women's jeans.

Ok, so maybe I am leaving a slice of my heart here. These have been three of the hardest years of my life, but I'm coming out stronger. I still met people that I will be friends with forever, had experiences I will never forget, and now bring my own bags when I go to Trader Joe's. You did your job San Francisco.

Get me out of here!

Midlife crisis-"a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the "middle years" of life, as a result of sensing the passing of youth and the imminence of old age." (Elliott Jacques)
I turned 30 in April. A milestone some would say. I agree. Midlife? I hope not, but a milestone all the same. I automatically took stock of my life-my career (same company for 11 years, halting to a dead end with no opportunities), my love life (sadly non existent, if you've lived in San Francisco you know what I mean), children (thankfully non existent, definitely not ready to be a single mother), success (monetarily-not much to speak of, I live in San Francisco, remember?). I was in a city I didn't love, a job I didn't love, and squirming to get out.
I have been the epitome of responsible my entire life. I babysat until I was old enough to get a real job, worked every day once I turned 16, full time in the summer. I saved all my pennies until I got to college, so I didn't have to work my freshman year. I worked almost full time through college, on top of being a full time student. I have been with the same company since I was 19, working my way up the ladder.
Now don't get me wrong. I have experienced a lot. I've lived in three different states, traveled to 40 different ones. I have friends all over the country, good friends that would do anything for me (including let me sleep on their couch, we'll get to that later). But when I hit 30 I still felt lost. Self doubt? Definitely. What was I seriously going to be when I grew up? Was I too late?
An event at work finally made the decision easy. I had to leave. I couldn't sit in front of a computer one more day (well at least not for another year), this muffin top was getting way too large. So I asked some of these good friends, and my family, and they agreed. I was still young, single, and in good health. No better time than now. Time to be irresponsible.
So I'm leaving. I'm selling most of my belongings, putting a small amount in storage and am going to travel around for a year. Loading the Civic up and heading to Montana on August 31st (where the fam lives). From there a short stop in Seattle where I lived for 9 years, then on to Brooklyn to take over my great friend Mo's futon for a couple of months, back to Montana, Seattle, finally to Europe. At least that's the plan so far. You never know what could happen, and that's why you'll have to read the blog. :-)