So I've been alluding to some major life changes on the horizon. It's time to come clean: Sometime in early 2011 I'm moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area.
It's something I have been pondering for the past year or so. Over there I've got a wonderful (an enormous) extended family that I feel very removed from over here on the East Coast. Every time I hear about another cousin's birthday party, wedding or graduation that I've missed, it cuts a little bit. And my folks are getting older, so I'd like to be more a part of their lives as they enter their "golden years."
Plus, I just love the Bay Area to death. The people, the culture, the climate, the energy just feel comfortable and familiar. As much as I have grown to self-identify as a New Yorker, there's a lot of the Bay still in me. The Bay has great lindy hop and hip-hop dance scenes, an unmatched tech sector, and hundreds of amazing nonprofits and youth organizations.
I still love New York. But I also feel like there are no new milestones or accomplishments that I want to strive for here anymore. I've done work that I'm proud of for Global Kids, for Yehoodi, for my Quaker community, and for others that couldn't have happened anywhere else. But I feel like the horizon to steer towards is westward now.
So cue the DJ: I'm going back to Cali!
[UPDATE on my moving plans here.]
SWEET!
Woot! The Quaker community here on in the Bay Area will be so happy to have you as well- speaking for myself and for the local meetings that I’ve gotten to know. Congrats on the incumbent move and I can’t wait to see you out here. 🙂
Thanks for the welcome, Cala. What meetings can you recommend? I’ve been to the Oakland meeting I believe.
Looking forward to exploring the Quaker communities in the East Bay
Who let the white guy in that pic? lol Love you, Rik!
I’ve been looking unsuccessfully for an excuse to visit you again in NY for a few years now, but I make it to the Bay Area 2-3 times per year…so this is good for me! Plus, maybe I’ll see you at Pacific Yearly Meeting sometime…