Last weekend we attended the Coast Guard Chief’s Acceptance Dinner, among the Chief’s being inducted into the Mess was my Phil. This was one of the pivotal moments in his career, I’ve never been so proud. During the course of this dinner I chatted with a new acquaintance about our upcoming move and she brought up something that I haven’t been able to help but think about ever since; it is the concept of home and what it means to the military family.
I do not often talk about the military side of my life here, Phil goes and comes to work at the same time everyday, with rare exceptions and it isn’t generally something I think about when writing to you about some new exciting ingredient. But, there is one big thing that happens in our life that affects this space; we move. A lot. With that comes an element of uncertainty that tends to put a cloud over everything. A home is a wonderful thing to anyone, but to a military family picking up for parts unknown, finding that one small space to make your own is everything. It doesn’t matter if you are sleeping on the floor and eating out of a can as long as you are home. Last summer my family thought we had gone a little nuts, spending a few weeks living in the decidedly simple conditions in our apartment instead of staying with them. But, we were home and the sense of security it gave us allowed us to begin the newest chapter of our life.
Last Sunday morning Phil and I boarded a flight to San Francisco and stepped off into the beginning of a new life. The beautiful drive from the city to Sonoma county instilled in me a sense of hope and excitement I had previously not been certain would ever come. We drove straight to our first appointment and for about a half an hour my hope and excitement turned to panic and insecurity. You see, the first house we were set to visit, was not in fact a house as it was advertised, but a duplex with the owner living in the opposite half. I may have been comfortable with that if it didn’t come with a mysterious room we were not allowed to use, a staring landlord, the shared laundry facility*, the garbage/recycling that was only taken when the landlord had a big project and had no other choice and the unprovoked cat who attacked Phil. Oh, and did I mention the kitty graveyard complete with headstones and pictures in our half of the backyard. Can you imagine what would happen when Barney went out there? As I slowly walked to the car so as not to provoke any more cat attacks I remember thinking; welcome to California.
Thankfully after a surprisingly short span of time all negativity I had gained at that visit was whisked away by the gentle Sonoma breeze and my spirit warmed by the surprisingly gentle sun. Although we experienced some heartbreak (and a few rude realtors) during our fruitless attempts to find a house we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We have found the majority of Californians to be friendly, relaxed, helpful and just plain cool. I can’t tell you how many random people we have chatted with that actually turned out to be completely sane and interesting. This California is turning out to be a surprising place indeed.
We have been stuffing ourselves locally grown fruits and veggies from every produce stand around in an attempt to find the best place as soon as possible. I had forgotten that the growing season is so different here than what I am used to and am loving the luxurious experience of perfect berries in the middle of May. One thing I am finding particularly surprising is the heat. I was all prepared to be cranky and uncomfortable with the constant sun and blue skies, but for the first time I am finding it refreshing and energizing. I think I am falling in love with California and I have a feeling I am going to be very happy here.
Just where is all of this happiness going to take place? Petaluma, which is about an hour to an hour and a half north of San Francisco nestled against the Sonoma Mountains. We have leased a fabulous townhouse with a huge kitchen, views of the rolling hills and a balcony large enough for me to have orange and olive trees. We went and found a nursery to buy them at yesterday!
We fly back to my beloved Washington on Monday and after what will feel like the blink of an eye we will be packed up, our goodbyes said and we will be racing toward our new life. We may be sleeping on an aerobed and living off foods that require no preparation for a little while, but we will be home and will waste no time in making it our home.
*I’d rather beat my clothes against a rock in a river than share laundry facilities.
*It must be said that since we forgot to bring the camera to California, my talented photog took the photo above with his camera phone. I have to say, I am amazed at how well it turned out. Good job Phil.
* The Petaluma Farmers Market starts next week, I can’t wait to get backdown here and go!
I’m sure soon enough you and Phil will be less and less surprised by we Californians;P
Good luck with the move, Erin! I can’t wait to see what you start cooking up in NoCal.
My Grammy moved around a lot for most of her young life, and when she finally settled in her house in Medford she hardly left it for more than 60 years. There really is no place like home.
Don’t tell anyone, but I secretly love California too.
Oh Erin. Your intro touched me in a place I haven’t been to in a long time. I am an Air Force angel (think Air Force Angels, Army Brats!). We moved every 2-3 years until I was in high school and my mother said she was not moving me in the middle of high school , so figure out a way to stay here 3 years, or Dad goes solo to the next assignment. (He was there until April of my senior year. I went to college in Sept and my mother & sister joined him in Germany.)
I can’t imagine what it was like for my mother to go through that. I told Sam, the last time we moved, that I would leave this house feet first on a gurney! And we only moved about 1 mile away!
“Home” for us, always appeared at Christmas time. There were a few special decorations & ornaments which signaled we were home. It is one of those technicolor memories for me – to think back to each house we lived in and think where we put the tree up and where the sleigh & reindeer went. It was a 40′s era celluloid sleigh & reindeer with a fat Santa and a lot of glitter & white cotton. The glitter fell off a bit every year and the cotton went from fluffy to flattened, but it was ours and we loved it! After the tornado, in Kansas City, destroyed nearly every single thing we owned, Mutti searched high and low around the neighborhood to find the Christmas box. She found it (a good block away) torn apart and shredded. The reindeer and sleigh were broken, but repairable, so she brought them home and forever after they were lopsided and kind of pitiful looking – but it meant so much to put them out every year. After they moved to Germany, she bought a hand carved Sleigh & reindeer which I inherited. It enjoys pride of place on the mantle every year and I sigh a little sigh of joy.
My mother did NOT enjoy cooking, but another thing she did was make sure we had a sit-down dinner as soon as the pots and pans were unpacked. She’d polished the tables with lemon Pledge, put candles on the table and made something yummy – usually fried chicken her one stand out dish. Another sign we were At Home!
I hope you find a house soon. The “home” will come as you move in and find your center. Let me know when you are due here. I’m free all summer! Rainey promises she’ll come up!
I hope all of the packing is going well! I can’t believe it is moving time already, but I am glad that you found a place (despite the CRAZY duplex experience!).
Yay for STP! Tell him congratulations. I am so happy that you like California! (Some of your favorite people were born there, you know…) I too love the sunshine as you know, and have been SO much happier down here. Keep me posted on the orange and olive trees. I was thinking about getting some for my naked back yard, but I’m not really sure how they’ll do in Dallas. Love ya.
Marvin, I have officially gone Californian. I love it here! I am so excited to get into my new kitchen in a few weeks to start creating with the produce of this gorgeous place. I can’t believe no one told me about this place sooner!
Leslie, I agree. It’s funny though I have an inner struggle between the part of me that wants to be on the move and the part that wants a little cottage somewhere. . . possibly NoCal!
Donna, Thank you for sharing your story, it always helps at a time of transition to hear from someone who’s been through it too. It is incredibly exciting/frightening to be somewhere new, but having that island of familiarity is everything. I’ll be seeing you soon.
Kim, Thanks! I can tell you we will be talking about the crazy man and his kitty army for years.
Sam, I’ll do that. You love the sunshine? No way! I’ll keep you posted about the trees, they are so cheap here. I was amazed.
BTW, I just found wedge of Point Reyes Blue for $6! On Long Island it was $15. Did I say I loved it here?
Oh, Erin! I just stopped by to see how long you’d be in the NW. I’ve begun contemplating a drive up to Sisters, OR for the July quilt show and I was hoping that might be something that would interest you.
So much for that, but I’m thrilled to hear that you’re really anticipating enjoying NoCal. Wish I knew more about it than the fleeting trips I’ve made twixt Vancouver and LA but I know what I’ve seen I’ve enjoyed greatly. And it’s such a foodie culture (Erin, I know you hate that concept but I don’t know another word for it) I know you’ll be at home!
Our oldest left San Fran last summer and still misses getting to make new food discoveries every week.
Yes, I’ll drive up for a NoCal rendezvous. Wouldn’t miss it!
Meanwhile, Donna, your story of your non-foodie mom making dinner as a way to claim her new digs really resonated with me. Back in Northridge Earthquake when we really got rattled, the first thing I did after counting all the noses and fingers was put on a pot of vegetable soup. Made me feel reassured that everything would get put back together.
LOVE that after all these years some of us C&Zers are drawing closer together!
PS When my girls went off to college I taught them risotto since you can make it with a hotplate (ask me; it and ice cream were the things I lived on during my endless kitchen remodel).
So how providential is it that I just picked up this recipe for strawberry risotto from a podcast at the gym this morning? When you’re settling in in Petaluma, summer strawberries should be abundant and delicious. http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/gf/gf080708strawberry_risotto_
As I have a natural migration pattern of my own, I have learned that “home” is where you hang your pot rack, if you even hang it.
In all seriousness, I doubt B & I will ever find perfection in a city, neighborhood, a dwelling- in tangible things. I think I define the perfect “home” as whatever tastes the best- what reminds me of Grandpa’s garden and the freshness… There I go being a Libra again!
You have moved so many times, you definitely know that the fun of learning some place equals about 80% of a move, and it balances the remaining 20% which is fear.
Go forth and conquer, and we’ll see you soon!!!
You are in my thoughts that everything goes smoothly for the move. I can empathise and sympathise with you. It is both exciting and a tad scary to move like that.
The one thing I really don’t like is finding a new place to live. We thought that viewing an appartement with no toilet (yes, there was a toilet – it was sitting unplumbed in the lounge area as there was no plumbing in the bathroom for it….eeek) was the depths of hilarity. Your cat graveyard tops that I think!
I am jealous that you will have a nice terrace area for some fruit trees though….. I do miss having a garden. Window boxes are just not the same after a while.
bon courage!
Rainey, Quite alright, love foodies just can’t stand the word. I’ll give you a pass. The risotto sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing the link. I can’t wait see you two!
Knifethrower, Libra’s are wonderful! I love exploring a new place, it’s what we’ve been doing since we signed our lease earlier in the week. I already have a smoked salmon supplier in the form of an awesome old hippie in a little trailer on the side of Highway 1, have found the best bbq andraw oysters on Tomales Bay as well as the best organic cherry vendor and a strawberry lady. It will be very easy for you to find yourself at home in Sonoma I think!
Debbie, Oh my goodness! No toilet! I can tell you for sure that we will be talking (and laughing) about that disaster for years to come. Thank you!!
I gotta confess: I shared that recipe in my absolute enthusiasm for the concept but, on trying it, I have to say it’s a great disappointment.
Better, I think, after trying it, not to cook the strawberries — they lose not only their color but their bright flavor as well. I’m sure it would be more rewarding to make a flavorful traditional rice pudding and serve it with a generous amount of fresh or sweetened berries.
Rainey, Quite alright. I have a recipe on here for a lentil and rice salad that uses dried strawberries you may be happier with. http://theendivechronicles.com/2008/02/29/lentil-and-rice-salad-with-plump-dried-strawberries/
Erin, as someone who has also done a lot of moving around over the last 10 years, I completely understand and I wish you the best for settling into your new home. I know how harrowing it can be to go house-hunting, but I must say the cat graveyard is far scarier than anything I’ve ever encountered in the US, the UK and France put together!!
My next move is also to California (the other end of the state though) so I’ll be especially curious to hear about your new life and all the discoveries that await you. Best of luck!
Thank you Rachel! Good luck on your move and in your new job!
Erin,
What a lovely piece you have written. You made me a bit misty I must say. Enjoy California.
I understand the need to want a place. We were traveling for more than half a year last year and by the end of it we so badly wanted a place of our own we almost ended up moving into an old drug den. Good luck with finding a new place, uprooting, regrowing and so forth. Hope it all goes well.
Bordeaux, I am really glad it was an “almost” move. It is wonderful to see you backafter all of your travels, trials and new business venture! I hope you and Alexander are enjoying every minute.