I went on a vacation last week... a much needed vacation. Paul and I went back to San Francisco for a 3rd time within a year and I have to say this will be the last time we vacation there. The next time we are in San Francisco we will have some keys to a italianate victorian flat with a big bay window that we call our own. It took some time but I really feel this is what I need in my life right now - a move that will put it all on the line and help me break free of these chains of my comfort zone.
Ever since I was about 10 years old I would beg my parents to take me to San Francisco. I would beg and ask and ask (with barely any results) to visit the city but they never would take me. The drive is only 45 minutes from where I grew up (San Jose, CA) but we would never go. I remember saying to myself that when I get older I'm going to live there. Then when the big move to Texas happened it was my one and only goal to get back to where I started from in NorCal. That never happened. So I met Paul and things have all just coasted through ever since. When I turned 25 a few years I told myself I was going to do big things for the next five years and do things that I thought I never could do. About two weeks after my birthday I told Paul "We're going to NYC for the very first time, I'll buy the tickets and we'll go in about a month." And I did. Next thing I applied to a university and attended until the money ran out. Cest la vie! I moved away from the comfort of my parent's house and Baytown over to the big bad-ass city of Houston. I wouldn't settle for random X neighborhood either. I moved to Montrose, close to downtown and center of culture, clubs, and tree lined streets. Its the village of Houston and very very desirable. So I got in and since then moved to a bigger better place with a deck and everything and am now living comfortably in a beautiful old home.
Not to mention 3 vacations to California and one to New Orleans in the past 9 months.
So things are good. The job is stressful but I found a job that you could definitely grow and possibly settle down with. Its a love-hate relationship that is pretty unhealthy. However the benefits are very grown up and the pay outs are very sweet. I guess thats what life is really like. So things aren't that bad, as crazy and fucked up it feels sometimes.
So back to what I was saying. I have always wanted to go to San Francisco routinely as a kid and even more so as a young adult. Being there these past three times has been quite the trip! Up and down the streets like a roller coaster and walking along a dreamy waterfront. The weather is hard, yet sweet. The people there are vastly different from the next and are fierce defenders from shit-talkers about their city. After all, its THE CITY. The little cable cars climb half-way to the stars and the fog chills the air. Thanks Mr. Bennett for those summarizations!
The fact of the matter is I dream big and San Francisco is a city who's foundation sits upon dreams and artistry. Inspiration abounds and if you could only see how wonderful it is you would feel it too. Its time for me to move back and live in my city by the bay. Texas has been good to me and it continues to provide a wealth of opportunity for thousands of people who move here every year. But, its just not me. I feel like a cactus in the rain forest. I wasn't designed to live here. And while I can fit in and drink up everything that comes to me I'm supposed to be back in California.
I would miss my Mom and Dad immensely and probably cry at night for them like a 4 year old for a while, but I said a few years back that I'm going to grant myself some wishes. I deserve it and I'm young enough to clean up if I mess up. If I were 40 we'd be having some problems!
So what is next? Well it has already been decided that we are going to start paying off our debts that we owe together and bring our credit score up. I've got lots of settlement offers from a few years now that I can use to negotiate these big honkin' debts off. I used to be stupid in my younger days and subconsciously thought, "It will never happen to me." Oh how wrong you were Jess! I know that it won't be a dramatic difference in Paul and I's scores but if we ever want a house here or anywhere it all starts with credit. We have the money to do it and for the life of me I'm not sure why we never even bothered cleaning up our credit. But, I said I would move if our debts (or the majority of them) were paid or settled I would move out west. I want a lot of things out of this life and the adult side of me is realizing it all starts with your good name. Cash doesn't solve everything! Like, duh.
So, no more vacations! At least for a little bit. We're alternating settlements between us. I'll settle and pay off one first and then we'll settle and pay off one of Paul's next. Relationships are a team effort and they weren't lying about that! All in all wish us luck. I know what you're thinking about San Francisco: ~*GHEY*~ but its truly an amazing place with some of the most forward thinking and innovative people on the planet.
The South has soured me and hopefully some good ocean air is what I need to cleanse my soul.

Little boxes, on the hillside. Little boxes made of ticky-tacky...
Ever since I was about 10 years old I would beg my parents to take me to San Francisco. I would beg and ask and ask (with barely any results) to visit the city but they never would take me. The drive is only 45 minutes from where I grew up (San Jose, CA) but we would never go. I remember saying to myself that when I get older I'm going to live there. Then when the big move to Texas happened it was my one and only goal to get back to where I started from in NorCal. That never happened. So I met Paul and things have all just coasted through ever since. When I turned 25 a few years I told myself I was going to do big things for the next five years and do things that I thought I never could do. About two weeks after my birthday I told Paul "We're going to NYC for the very first time, I'll buy the tickets and we'll go in about a month." And I did. Next thing I applied to a university and attended until the money ran out. Cest la vie! I moved away from the comfort of my parent's house and Baytown over to the big bad-ass city of Houston. I wouldn't settle for random X neighborhood either. I moved to Montrose, close to downtown and center of culture, clubs, and tree lined streets. Its the village of Houston and very very desirable. So I got in and since then moved to a bigger better place with a deck and everything and am now living comfortably in a beautiful old home.
Not to mention 3 vacations to California and one to New Orleans in the past 9 months.
So things are good. The job is stressful but I found a job that you could definitely grow and possibly settle down with. Its a love-hate relationship that is pretty unhealthy. However the benefits are very grown up and the pay outs are very sweet. I guess thats what life is really like. So things aren't that bad, as crazy and fucked up it feels sometimes.
So back to what I was saying. I have always wanted to go to San Francisco routinely as a kid and even more so as a young adult. Being there these past three times has been quite the trip! Up and down the streets like a roller coaster and walking along a dreamy waterfront. The weather is hard, yet sweet. The people there are vastly different from the next and are fierce defenders from shit-talkers about their city. After all, its THE CITY. The little cable cars climb half-way to the stars and the fog chills the air. Thanks Mr. Bennett for those summarizations!
The fact of the matter is I dream big and San Francisco is a city who's foundation sits upon dreams and artistry. Inspiration abounds and if you could only see how wonderful it is you would feel it too. Its time for me to move back and live in my city by the bay. Texas has been good to me and it continues to provide a wealth of opportunity for thousands of people who move here every year. But, its just not me. I feel like a cactus in the rain forest. I wasn't designed to live here. And while I can fit in and drink up everything that comes to me I'm supposed to be back in California.
I would miss my Mom and Dad immensely and probably cry at night for them like a 4 year old for a while, but I said a few years back that I'm going to grant myself some wishes. I deserve it and I'm young enough to clean up if I mess up. If I were 40 we'd be having some problems!
So what is next? Well it has already been decided that we are going to start paying off our debts that we owe together and bring our credit score up. I've got lots of settlement offers from a few years now that I can use to negotiate these big honkin' debts off. I used to be stupid in my younger days and subconsciously thought, "It will never happen to me." Oh how wrong you were Jess! I know that it won't be a dramatic difference in Paul and I's scores but if we ever want a house here or anywhere it all starts with credit. We have the money to do it and for the life of me I'm not sure why we never even bothered cleaning up our credit. But, I said I would move if our debts (or the majority of them) were paid or settled I would move out west. I want a lot of things out of this life and the adult side of me is realizing it all starts with your good name. Cash doesn't solve everything! Like, duh.
So, no more vacations! At least for a little bit. We're alternating settlements between us. I'll settle and pay off one first and then we'll settle and pay off one of Paul's next. Relationships are a team effort and they weren't lying about that! All in all wish us luck. I know what you're thinking about San Francisco: ~*GHEY*~ but its truly an amazing place with some of the most forward thinking and innovative people on the planet.
The South has soured me and hopefully some good ocean air is what I need to cleanse my soul.

Little boxes, on the hillside. Little boxes made of ticky-tacky...
Current Location: 77019-4419
Current Mood:
optimistic
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