Month 1: Waking up in Paradise

(this was originally written as an email to friends Feb. 27, 2008)

Hey there.

It has been precisely one month since I left New York. One month. What you might ask, have I been doing with my time? It's a question I ask myself often, as the days have passed by, with no boundaries, no pressures. Well, I'm happy to report that my productivity have plummeted to an all time low, some days so low that it barely registers.

You see, I've had a month of Saturdays.

Not Sundays, Saturdays. Saturdays are the days when the weekend is still fresh and new, and you have a whole 2 days to get things done -- you know, all those things you didn't get done during the week cause you were working too hard. Organizing, sorting, cleaning and dreaming. Yes, dreaming. Saturdays, particularly Saturday mornings are the day that I dream. I've been catching up.

But first I had to sleep for 10 days, which was good since it rained. Did anyone tell you about the damp Northern Californian rain? And about how Californians don't heat their homes above 65 degrees? My husband is officially a Californian now because he kept insisting it perfectly fine.

I was a helluva lot warmer in New York cause at least New Yorkers have heat indoors (be grateful people!) Here I hovered on the edge of almost freezing for weeks. Everyone kept telling me I'd get used to it -- liars. I was very happy when my New York apartment stuff arrived with my woolen sweaters. Now, I'm warm.

So I slept, then I did those things you have do when you move: figuring out where things are, what things are, and what you need to do. And then, I got my drivers license. This is when I became a true Californian. No, it wasn't the 3 hours I spent at the DMV. Not it wasn't the thrill of getting my CA driver's license in the mail with my weight printed (imagine my surprise!)

I became a true Californian the day I went to get my driver's license -- and got a flat tire on 101.

So for those of you who don't know -- 101 is a completely hellish highway. Many narrow lanes, people either driving too fast or too slow. And then there is the debris. 101 is full of random debris. In my case, it was a complete tire and wheel rim in the middle of my lane. The car in front swerved, I tried to do the same, glanced in my mirrors, saw a truck in the other lane, decided to cut my swerve, hit the tire, got a flat. Welcome to CA.

While on the side of the 101 calling OnStar, the CHP (yes, chips!) arrived within 10 minutes. There were a total of 4 cars including myself sidelined by the damn tire. CHP escorted me off the highway as they were very concerned about my safety -- people on the side of the road often get hit from behind. I took their advice. (Yes I drove on my flat, didn't destroy my rims though.)

I didn't file a report, which ended up being a good because since the tire wasn't moving, apparently it would be my fault for hitting it, according to the officer. Please note that for future reference. If you're every asked, either the debris was moving or you can't remember. Thank you for the heads up CHPs.

And yes, the CHP officers were cute. Not like Erik Estrada though (if you have to ask, you're too young or you slept during your youth.)

Things are settling into a rhythm for now. I sit in the morning sun, reading, drinking tea, and trying to focus on completing the degree, which is hard to do when there are not demarcations in your day. But things are starting to happen.

A graduate school friend from NY came to visit during the Game Developers Conference last week and we went GDC-party-hopping in SanFran. She helped me remember the "why" of the degree.

We finally have a contractor now and the house renovations should begin once the rains have stopped. Life will get unsettled soon.

My mother is thrilled that I'm on the west coast and calls me everyday to ask about the weather, whether I've eaten and what my husband is up to. I'm usually drinking tea when she calls. Husband is hard at work on his next project -- details to remain undisclosed for now.

I miss New York sometimes (not the subway, my throat is *finally* back to normal.) It takes energy to get to New York and to stay living New York. You gotta keep moving to do that, and New Yorkers are full of zestful, frenzied energy. The energy of CA is different, more optimistic. It's about dreaming outwards. And here, the energy, the money and “can do it” attitude exists to make dreams happen. Durham, I miss less, but I haven't lived there in a while so it's that much further away. And no, haven't sold the house yet -- we're ever hopeful.

So I'm awake now and it feels good. I'm sending a few pics to help you imagine this laid-back life. We should all get a month of Saturdays at some point in our working lives.

I hope that you are all well, and I miss you. I shall write again, maybe in a month.

cheers,
..rani