Archive for the ‘Lessons from SF’ Category
Friendships in Your Thirties
Recently, an article was written for the New York Times (coincidentally by the husband of one of my favorite bloggers, Joanna from Cup of Joe) about how it can be difficult to make friends after 30. The post has sparked a lot of conversation, and I’ve seen a lot of commentary and social shares from people agreeing or disagreeing with the sentiment of the author, Alex Williams. Williams writes that making friends later in life (your 30s and beyond) can be difficult and is often attributed to us all being a little bit more busy, and a little pickier with what our priorities are and expectations in friendship.
//image// D. Sharon Pruitt
Personally, I’ve been particularly hyper-aware of this during my first year in San Francisco as I’ve been working to fill my “pool of friends,” as Williams calls it. I’ve met a lot of people over this past year and have had many conversations with those who are also in different stages of making new friends: either brand new to a city and what sometimes equates to desperately searching for new friends, struggling to understand the idiosyncrasies of new or changing friendships, or unfortunately, sometimes removing friendships that aren’t working.
I’ve been really lucky in life with friends – close female and male relationships seemingly have come naturally and easily to me thus far. I feel surrounded by friends who feel like my family and a good list I could dial up if shit completely hit the fan, and I needed someone to talk to, pick me up, rescue me, rub my feet and feed me bonbons (just joking – that’s gross).
One Month
Forgive me blog lovelies, for I have sinned. It’s been one month since my last post.
It should go without saying that I’ve spent the last month largely focused on settling into this new bright and shiny home of mine. While the first couple weeks were a bit overwhelming, the last couple weeks I feel like I’ve really hit my San Francisco stride.
A friend of mine told me she has a theory – those who move to San Francisco and are meant to be here, have everything fall in place. Those who are not meant to be here, struggle.
I had this feeling when I visited San Francisco last October that I was just meant to be in this city. And so the story goes, I made it my personal goal to get here one way or the other in 2011. Now that I’m finally here, I feel like I’m meant to be here more than ever. Everything has, for the most part, fallen right into place. From my job, my ‘hood, apartment and neighbors, to the new friends I’ve made and fun new things to do and places to go that I’ve discovered.
Every time I meet someone new and I tell them I’ve been in San Francisco for a little over a month, (which is pretty much daily), they ask me how I like it. So far my standard answer has been an upbeat, “I like it a lot!” I used to toss around the L word about SF before I actually moved here. Now I feel like I’m in a new relationship with someone, just getting to know them, and LOVE is far too strong when we’re in such an infantile part of our union.
It was easy for me to say “I LOOOOVEEE San Francisco!” as a tourist, but it’s a different ball game for me to say I love it as a resident. How could I, when I feel like I just scratched the surface of all this city has to offer… I’m slowly learning what it means to be a resident here, not a tourist.
The epic San Francisco update
So – after a crazy long, harried, stressful 15-hour car ride with a cat that wouldn’t calm down or sit still, I made it to San Francisco last week (with my sister, and my parents driving the moving truck)!
Stella changed positions in the car every three minutes. She was so stressed! But, when my sister and I finally arrived in San Francisco at 1 a.m. on Thursday the 13th (my lucky day), we fell asleep on top of a sleeping bag on the floor, and Stella slept underneath the covers, right between us. (Bottom picture). She’s so cute and adjusting well to the change, despite the car ride!
I’ve spent my first week in San Francisco unpacking, spending time with my family while they were here, unpacking, shopping for all that random stuff you need in a new apartment like shower organizers, waiting for my Internet to arrive in the mail (THAT sounds weird), navigating this new city with Google Maps NEVER leaving my hand, unpacking, unpacking, enjoying the SUNSHINE, unpacking, organizing…
I’m all set up in my new apartment now; there’s not even one box left to put away! I’ll be sharing pics and SO many more details from my first week here. Every day I learn something new, go somewhere new, meet someone new. It’s been very exciting, and very challenging.
