Leaving San Francisco

     To my core was it an eternal truth? That central to my identity and non negotiable I would never leave San Francisco as my permanent residence? I fantasized that someday we might live in New Orleans and New York for a season or two but never leave San Francisco as our base.  Time and considerations alter plans. Oh well, at least I'm not rooting for the Dodgers.  Unless you are wealthy, unless you don't mind living in the loins of the Tenderloin, unless you have had property for decades, unless you can be patient or strategize well, unless you have inherited family property, unless you have inherited family property that your brother doesn't have too much crap inside for make impossible sharing, San Francisco is no longer for...us.

      Not choosing to see this as a negative we choose to view this as what upper management always wants to refer the act of terminating/firing employees: this is our new opportunity.  San Francisco did not fire us; San Francisco is providing after 100+ years as good citizens a  new opportunity.  I love opportunities. Seriously, why not? It's our little bit of a Star Trek adventure.  It will keep things fresh, me awake.  I like the idea of being awake. I enjoy sleeping too but as I get older, sometimes I have concerns about not waking up.

      Exhausted from weekly bids for residences all over our city (Richmond District, Glen Park, Mission Terrace, Hyde Street, near Ocean Ave, the outer Sunset...) to find that despite waiving all contingencies, putting together all the financing we can afford- that at best we were in the middle of 50 bidders, with the top bids in all cash.  Stepping outside that box, we had to ask ourselves- even if we could come up with more money (winning bids are usually 25-40% over the original bid price)- with me dancing for tips again- how smart would it be to put us further into a debt hole?  Can I still get in my old outfits? (yes) . Some of these homes were in very crowded blocks; places bigger than what we have now- but less appeal of the sounds of the cable car tracks, Aquatic Park a walk away,  U-Lee, The Bell Tower, Le Beau Market, Bob's Donuts, Touch Touch Floral, Darbar, Swan's, Hahn's and other places that we view as essential.

     I've been here since 1985, my first residence was here for a time after birth, with subsequent weekends visiting Grandma (died 1993) -this area, this residence has always been part of my existence. Polk Gulch and Hyde Street changed with less places now that we choose to visit.  Fond memories of working down the street at Double Rainbow ('85-'90) and the great friendships that have endured and thrived over time, the bookstores (almost all gone), the Lumiere, Royal, Alhambra movie theaters, Grammphone video, grocery stores (Big Apple and the market next to Big Apple that could not compete-but was a neighborhood grocery store as Le Beau Market is, in the best ways), Johanna at Polk-A-Dot, See's Candies, Audrey's Office store, Polk St. Beans, Spinelli's, Freed, Teller, Freed, Woolworth's, specialty stores and cafe's names I no longer remember (Carlene of Maui's- that's one!), Richard dying at his pizza place on Polk Street with pizzas in the oven... City Discount (restauarnt supplies), the Cinch saloon and Molte Colte are still around.  There's a bunch of coffee places where you may pay $3-$4 for a cup of coffee now.  Remove the Cinch saloon and the once thriving gay neighborhood is just a rumor.

     Swenson's (pizza walk to Za! and ice cream, ( U-Lee-Ken and family (shout out to cousin Ronnie around the corner!), Le Beau (where Dexter was being groomed to work, thanks to the great owner of the market, Joe), The Bell Tower (where friendships with just moved from Minnesota Megan- then Allison and the owner, Megan's aunt, Barb) and the community of their customers- these will be the places we will miss the most.  Neighbors Larry, Rita and Dan, Shane, Prescott, Terry and Robert. Our proximity to Cailin as it's been for 8-9 years now, visits from Captain Mike, waving to Lance,the hum of the cable car tracks, the fog horns, the large redwood tree patting the outside of our 4th floor window, of a part of the San Francisco community, riding the cable car to work, Muni, Green Apple, Browser, Amoeba, my parents house- not far away. A bus ride.  Yet still, these will be a little farther but not so far away.

    Today we went to a Giants game which ended in fine fashion with replacement second baseman Brandon Hicks making a great double play with Brandon Crawford and winning the game in the bottom of the ninth with a Herculean 3 run home run.  Teared up a bit during the Tony Bennett song after the game. Something about the line "high on a hill, it calls to me"....

        We may leave behind an area, we may leave behind possessions and materials but memories of time experienced, shared and spent will travel with us.  To our next great place. Boldly we go. (or not so boldly but we're going).