Story: Cost of Living, San Francisco

La otra orilla siempre es mas bella. This Spanish proverb is equivalent to our English: The grass is always greener on the other side, but in Hispanic culture apparently the eyes are fixed just above the horizon rather than at ones feet.

Seeing the shoreline along Baker Beach that last afternoon, I realized how thrilling and essential the presence of salt water, and crashing waves were to my existence. Being at the shore (orilla) along the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco as the orange glow of the setting sun faded into a salty mist, bella (beautiful).

But all good things must come to an end, I would soon find myself far from the calm shore line, learning the price one must pay for such beauty.

Leaving San Francisco 7:00am
As I made my way onto 18th street that morning from Lexington I was excited by the flood of memories from the previous two days I had spent there. Drinking in the Castro, the eccentricities along Haight and Ashbury, Spanish spoken fluently in the Mission. Finally my rational mind caught up with the rest of me as I paused, "Where Is Maryjane?"

As the Question of where she was surfaced in my consciousness, She immediately appeared before me. I turned my head toward the direction of the sighting. She was with another man, he drove a large truck and the two of them were barreling down the road toward downtown, my heart sunk and my body began to move. I sprinted through the Mission, it was three blocks before I finally lost them. On good information from a bystander I was told where I would be able to catch up with them downtown.

Seeing San Francisco
Sometimes it seems that good friends and warm company are all one needs to sustain stability. That first evening that I arrived into town I was exhausted and hungry from traveling. When my friend Caitlin announced that we would be baking cookies with the rest of her friends I was re-energized. At the Apartment on Lexington I met the rest of her room mates and neighbors. This friendly group is known by some as Team Lexington. Caitlin explained that it was a group of flexible membership, but the core lived there in the cozy flat on Lexington Street. The evening wore on and the cookies baked, we played a few entertaining rounds of Taboo, tried out the fresh warm cookies. Finally I found myself asleep on the couch dreaming about what possibilities the next day might hold.

That next brisk morning was even better than I had expected. I started with some coffee at Ritual. It was not long before I met Maryjane, soon we were riding around the city from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Park. We ended up lost and eventually parked in Chinatown where our penchant for adventure paid off. Near the City Lights Bookstore I made friends with a San Francisco local, Daniel, and his work colleague, Ash. Once they met Maryjane we had our own impromptu sight-seeing team. We made our way from the top of Twin Peaks, to Haight Street and eventually back into the Mission to meet Caitlin and enjoy a few more drinks. I fell asleep hoping it would never end.

Finally Leaving San Francisco 7:45am
I emerged from the Civic Center train stop and walked to the police impound lot. "Come up to the Window", the woman ordered. "How much is it going to be to get her out of here?", I complacently inquired. "Two hundred and eighty-one dollars", she blurted out and followed with, "what color and make is the vehicle?" I let the figure sink in for a second trying to figure out how I had gotten into this predicament before finally replying, "A yellow mini cooper convertible." I retrieved the attractive blonde, a yellow mini cooper that the car sharing service had affectionately nick-named Maryjane. Leaving the lot I dropped her off for the last time at her designated parking spot and made my way to the airport.

The signs along the scenic Baker Beach strongly urge visitors --Use Caution, People have drowned while swimming and wading in the water!-- Beauty does have its down side, excitement its risks, there are millions of possible misfortunes with every decision we make. Despite that fact you really should know, when it comes to the Pacific North Western oasis called San Francisco, the other shore really is more beautiful, and worth every penny.