Rounding third...

Guess what? Katie and I are heading for home. And by “home” I mean Minnesota. And by using a “rounding third” and “heading for home” I’ve fulfilled my obligation to include a baseball metaphor in every post on this blog.

Me wishing San Franciscans well

But we’re really doin’ it, Harry! We moved to San Francisco three and a half years ago. It’s crazy to think it’s been that long, but I’ve also stopped trying to grasp time. Maybe that’s something that happens when you hit 34? I’ve definitely caught myself judging experiences by how they “feel,” more often. Vacations, hanging out with certain people, jobs. Things just start to “feel” too short or too long, and then you try to do something about it – either immediately, or the next time around.

It feels like now is the right time to head back, but like our journey out here, the move is equal parts exciting and terrifying.

Exciting:
- People (family & friends)
- Spring/summer/fall
- Owning a home again
- Parking a car in a garage at said home
- Re-acclimating with the Twin Cities

Terrifying:
- People (family & friends are in different life stages compared to when we left)
- Winter
- Missing so much about San Francisco
- Needing to drive and park said car because we can’t walk everywhere
- Feeling like we’ve made a mistake after leaving

Have you ever gone somewhere by yourself and thought, “Man, this is sweet,” but then immediately followed that thought with “I wish _____ was here!”? That’s sort of what living out here has been like. These three and a half years have been so awesome, and I don’t know that we would have changed anything. But living out here has also emphasized how much we appreciate our families, and our closest people. While we’ve made some great friends, it’s just not the same. And the idea of picking up and doing this all over again somewhere new/unfamiliar sounds pretty awful. The prospect of stepping back into an accessible, friend-family network sounds pretty great. Sharing new experiences with these folks sounds even better.

Me upon returning to Mpls (I assume)

I’ve been stealing Costanza’s philosophy by saying we want to leave SF on a high note, but it’s true. There’s so much out here that we’ve yet to do, and yet I don’t know that ten years would be enough time to do it all. So best to leave now before things turn sour.

Since we’ve been telling what’s happening, common questions (and answers) include:

- Why? (A: Life choice, this city is stupid expensive, we miss people, feels right)
- Do you regret selling your old house? (A: No, change is good)
- Are you taking new jobs? (A: No)
- Where are you going to live? (A: We just bought a house in S. Mpls)
- When are you moving? (A: We close on it May 15)
- Is there anything we can do to help? (A: Not right now, but thank you for the offer)

We’re trying to enjoy these final days here in the Bay Area, and not get all wrapped up in the real estate/logistics-shit nightmare that entails moving. At the same time, we’re also not trying to make our move feel like the absurd ceremonies of Kobe and Jeter’s farewell seasons. After telling some friends it’s been so good getting to know them, one deftly replied, “We're not dying.” Fair point.

But it’s hard to not feel like heading back to Minnesota means packing it up and settling in for the long haul. I guess to that end it’s worth keeping that philosophy of “feel” in mind. Again, we’re 34 years old. This is like the end of the 3rd inning* of our lives.







*Ok, two baseball metaphors