Today we put in our two week notice.
This is a little nerve-racking, because it’s a nice, comfy little apartment but we’re not going to have rent for November anyway so what the hell.
Yes, we’re still moving to San Francisco.
I’m going to address a few things that have been said, starting with the friend who emailed me to warn that it’s really expensive to live there..
Okay, we know that. But we’re finding listings on Craigslist that are the same monthly rent as the place we’re in already – you know, the little studios above markets and restaurants and stuff right in the city. I’m thinking, “Well YEAH it’s expensive, if you have a car you want to park and you don’t want to share a bathroom and you have an aversion to panhandlers sleeping in your doorway.”
We live simply, that coffeesister and I. We haven’t had a car for over two years and we have two pieces of furniture – one for each of us.
Another friend asked on Twitter yesterday, “How is the move coming along?”
Thank you for asking. It’s not. We haven’t a clue what we’re going to do and we really don’t have the means to pull it off.
But today we put in our two week notice, so there’s no looking back. Miracles are welcome at this point.
I think I’ll whip up a list here to help you grasp this. Okay, here we go..
WHY we’re moving to San Francisco
I’ve been unemployed for almost a year. When I look at job listings for the Palm Springs area I get maybe two or three a week and seldom get an interview. When I look at job listings for the San Francisco area there are about three hundred a day. Someone is bound to be crazy enough to hire me.
Sick wife – no health insurance – free clinics.
Palm Springs hates people without cars. San Francisco prefers them.
The buses in Palm Springs stop running at around 10:00pm. TEN PEE EM! The buses in San Francisco don’t stop running unless there’s a strike, in which case I’ll have something to write about. They also have trains and those iconic cable cars. There’s even a train that goes under the bay. It’s friggin’ AWESOME.
I want some rain, dammit. Yes, I know.. but I’m actually getting tired of eternal sunshine. I want a brisk breeze to whip through my hair and bite at my nose. I want my coat collar to flap in the wind as I trundle along, bundled up like a chilly papoose. I’ve forgotten what fog looks like. The only fog I’m familiar with lately is that inside my soul.
Alex Fayle is a guy with a blog that’s based entirely on the “Someday Syndrome,” wherein he tries to get people to quit saying “someday I’ll do this” and “someday I’ll do that,” and just DO IT ALREADY. My goal for 2010 is to stop reading Alex’s blog because I’ll have fulfilled MY “Someday Syndrome” by moving to San Francisco and being a writer.
We love that city. We’ve always wanted to live there. Why can’t we?
I want to write about San Francisco. The late, great Herb Caen was an inspiration for me and I want to follow in his loafers. I’m thinking of starting a blog about the city, so it would help to actually live there and go out around the town.
There’s one coffeehouse in Palm Springs that I like, and it’s a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This means that the handful of independent ones here suck. There is a coffeehouse on every corner in San Francisco. Almost all of them have free wifi.
Earthquakes invigorate me by reminding me of my mortality and encouraging me to do better before the next one comes along.
Finally, we need to do this. We have no choice.
Today we gave our “Someday Syndrome” two weeks notice.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a great plan. Hope it works out.
Plan?
I think it officially became a “plan” when you gave the two week notice. Otherwise it was just an “idea”!
Yeah, it’s sort of a plan, but without many details at the moment.
Sounds like a randomly strong together series of symbols that we have decided as a culture have meaning.
I have contacted a friend in SF. I’m hoping that he may be of some help.
I’m praying for you guys.
I don’t care what they say about you, I THINK you’re all awesome and stuff, Scotty.
Who are “they”? I need to add “them” to my “list”.
Brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of the Quotation Mark.
Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow, silly. I’d think you’d watch MSNBC just for the frequent mentions of your blog posts alone. You, Rush and the blond idiot are their favorite targets.
And thanks!
chure, mang!
Hey Rhodester…
Visiting ur blog after a loonnngg time. Here’s what I read somewhere..
“On your journey through life if you ever come across a fence you cannot cross- Throw your hat over the fence. Then you have to find a way across the fence to fetch the hat!………………….. and eventually …. YOU WILL!”
I guess that’s what you have done when you put in your notice…. A big ‘thumbs-up’ to you man….. And yes, lest i forget………
Wish you ALL THE BEST!…
Hey, KRIS! whaddup? and thanks.
…
I think you have huge KAHONES for doing what you are. I understand the need to have better health care for Coffeesister and you are an awesome writer! I wish you both the best and if there is anything I can do within my means……….please ask.
Take care my friend.
Leann´s brilliant blustering.. I need an upgrade
I appreciate the kudos Leann, but seriously, I think the guy with huge kahones is the guy who leaves a lucrative job to chase off after some adventure after selling everything he owns.
I’ve been out of work for almost a year and own almost nothing, so really.. we just need to get out of here and go after greater opportunity. That’s really all it is.
Thanks for saying I’m an awesome writer. I try! You’re an awesome commenter
I know you know this already, but….
Your friends are just worried about you and coffeesister. And the great majority of humanity is cautious by nature. Change frightens most people, so they think they are giving you good advice.
You should thank them, hug them even. And then ignore them.
I am very familiar with the sound of the soul being sucked out of ones life.
I don’t know you well, but from your blog posts and the tweets we’ve exchanged that sound comes through loud and clear.
You’re at the point you have to create change. For yourself, for coffeesister, and for your writing.
Success is creativity + perseverance. You seem to have both in spades.
You have a clearly defined goal to apply that creativity and perseverance to, and I know you’re going to make it.
With that I will leave you with an Irish blessing:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Oh, hey.. I totally understand where our friends are coming from. But just to give an idea of how familiar I am with SF, I saw my first Hippie in the Haight when I was about 8 years old. That was around 1967-68 while passing through with my parents. We were on our way to my great-aunt and uncle’s home on Van Ness in the city where we celebrated every Thanksgiving while I was growing up. I spent an hour on Google street-view the other day going up and down Van Ness trying to find that damn house! I don’t know the address but would recognize the house if I could find it, even after all these years. I didn’t see it though, much to my disappointment.
My aunt and uncle were elderly when I was a kid, so they’re long gone. Dad inherited the house from them around 1973 and sold it.
Some years later I was stationed on a Navy ship at Hunter’s Point across from Candlestick Park – 1978. We’d all go down to Market Street and hang out at a bar called The 711 Club. It’s long gone now, but I last dropped in on it and the same bartender, Les, in 1994.
So, I’m just saying I know the city.
I haven’t liked Palm Springs from day one. The only thing I like is the weather all year except summer, the night desert sky and the handful of awesome local friends we’ve gotten to know – Florian B., Ray S., Rick R. and Mike J. – you guys rock!
It seems that there are only two types of people here – those with family ties and those who are rich, gay and “successful,” with beautiful desert homes and black Amex cards. I have nothing against them – one of my local friends falls into that category and he’s an awesome guy – but I just don’t fit in with that society and never will.
Kevin, you’re right about success, creativity and perseverance. Thanks for an awesome and heartfelt exhortation.
Oh! guess I missed ur note y’day. . .. I’m doing alright man…
Even I have shifted to a different city a month back… Just settling down…. And I agree with Leann – you are a GREAT writer… Ever tried to get some of it published? I think you should…..
Take care and keep the words flowing… My best wishes to coffeesister and you.
Cheers :0)
Actually, that’s coming Kris. Stay tuned! I’m also hoping to start up a blog about San Francisco. Watch this one for details
Great!…. But seeing the response to your blog.. I ‘m guessing that I’ll have to get in Q to buy a copy
And I sure will…..
Till then … watching this space!!…
I’ve since seen the facebook comment about needing to give a month’s notice. Yikes, one more small pebble to kick out of the road. I have faith in you, and hope for you, and I have only one friend in the SF area but I’ve written her.
Lorna´s brilliant blustering.. I excel at it…whatever it is
Yeah, so of course they will charge us (or try to) because we won’t have November rent and they’ll say we left without paying. We won’t get a deposit back and will get reported and they won’t give us a recommendation. Welcome to our life.
Thanks for the support.
Well Dave, San Francisco needs another Herb Caen, and I know you’re destined to fill that void.
Yes, we are worried about you, not because we are afraid of change (who? us?) but because we are just curious why you wouldn’t pick a less expensive progressive city to live in, like Eugene or Portland or Burlington VT? No, it wouldn’t be SF, but I think it would make things a lot easier on the pocketbook.
I love the hell out of SF, I can’t wait to visit you two there.
Rene´s brilliant blustering.. Our First Day as Snowbirds; Off to a Crappy Start
Been to Eugene and Portland. Never been to Vermont, we’re west coast folks. We lived in Ashland Oregon through most of the nineties and got up to Eugene and Portland now and then.
A part of San Francisco is that Dorian’s mom is nearby and they’re very close. That’s fine with me.. I like my mom-in-law and we don’t see her anywhere as often as we should. Now we will.. she loves coming into the city.
Thanks for the Caen comment.. I have a post coming tomorrow about that.
You know we believe in you two, right? You’ll make it happen. xoxo
Rene´s brilliant blustering.. Our First Day as Snowbirds; Off to a Crappy Start
Dave,
I’m happy for you and Dorian. Making a decision to move can be unnerving but you two have many reasons why this particular city feels right for you. I think it’s great that you two are using the wonderful skills of reflection you both have to size up where you’re at, where you want to go, and where you’re going. It sounds like the job opportunities alone are a huge plus, the public transportation factor is a big one, and being near Dorian’s mom is obviously another big plus. While it may not be simple or straightforward exactly how it will all shake out… you two have the determination, attitude, and spirit needed to press on past doubts and fears and reach your goals. Thanks for another great update on things!
Jeanne
Jeanne´s brilliant blustering.. Tired But Inspired
You’re welcome, and thank YOUUUUU!
I think its a good move for you both and I see good things in my crystal ball for you…
I’ve wondered what kept you here in PS, its really more of a place to retire or vacation! There are so many places like SFO that will provide more opportunities. Keep up the bloggity blog and keep us in the know~
Palm Springs Savant´s brilliant blustering.. The Aegean Sea Cruise: All Good Things Come to an End
I just KNOW you must get to SF now and then on your travels because there MUST be a SchmetCo or two or a dozen in the bay area, so you’ll come down from whatever Nob Hill soiree you were attending and let us treat you to a cappuccino at our as yet undiscovered favorite coffeehouse, right?