When we left Philadelphia to set off on our great adventure, we had planned to explore the U.S. and think about our next steps. After returning to Philadelphia in April 2012, I had hoped to ruminate and explore the east coast a little more thoroughly. I read once that one should not make any major decisions for at least a year after retiring, which is what I had planned to do, but it hasn't quite worked out that way.
Through an unanticipated series of events, Lee and I drove back to Petaluma from Monterey and looked at a few homes. Last weekend we made an offer on a home in Sebastopol, and this week we finalized details. It has been an emotional couple of weeks, very much a roller coaster ride. I have long felt I wanted to move back to California to be closer to my family, but I didn't expect it to happen quite so quickly.
Moving across the country is a difficult decision to make, especially if one has established roots. And Lee and I established roots, strong ones. Our neighbors became our surrogate family, I fell in love with the Academy where I worked for 15 years, and Lee and I both made many good friends whom we will always love and cherish.
Philadelphia is a wonderful place, full of hidden gems around every corner. It is a city that is eminently walkable, a large city with a small-town feel. I am grateful I was able to explore it and get to know its many very special neighborhoods.
When all the paper work has been done, and when all the documents have been signed, Lee and I will continue south through California and then eastward through the southern states as originally planned. We will return to Philadelphia by the end of April, then spend a few months getting the house in order, possibly putting it on the market, tying up loose ends, and spending time with friends.
We are not yet sure of the timing of our return to California and moving into our new home, but it will happen, most likely, next fall or winter. My one consolation is that we will return to Philadelphia from time to time, to reconnect with long-time friends and places we have come to love. I apologize if this is a shock to some of you - it is a bit of a shock to us as well!
Sebastopol is in the Sonoma Valley, wine country. It is 10 minutes west of Santa Rosa, 20 minutes northeast of Bodega Bay on the coast, 30 minutes northwest of Petaluma, and about an hour and a half north of San Francisco. Here is a photo of the front of the house. It is a very cheerful house, full of color, windows and light.
It is a little premature to send out an open invitation to all to visit, but please accept a rain check and start planning a visit after we are moved and settled. We would love to see any and all of you, and show you around northern California - San Francisco, the redwood forests, the wineries, and more!
We will be in Petaluma until February 29, after which I will start adding posts to the blog again.
