I know I live in the most amazing city in the world. I know it is crazy that I would even consider moving from this most colorful and fantastic area in all of the universe. And why of all places would I consider moving south, to the land of smog, consumer culture, jammed freeways, media, flake, flack, smooze, smaze, flash in the pan etc. etc. etc. blah blah yadda yadda blah. (No, we don't have any of that up here in Silicon Valley!!!!!)
Well my friends, don't worry. I won't be calling you up from the 405 or the 10 or the 5, the 15 or Sunset Blvd and jamber on about how great LA is. Nor will I complain and moan about leaving.
No city can compare to that of dear San Francisco. I'm not leaving because it lacks anything. I'm leaving because it's perfect. PERFECT.
Here's a party situation. What would you do? You've gone to a party. What do you do? Multiple selections are ok.
A. Show up late - just as the party is starting
B. Show up even later - arriving as the last guest is leaving
C. Show up before the party.
D. Show up on time.
E. Show up on "time". (California time = 30-45 min after "official" party start time)
F. Leave early
G. Leave after first person leaves.
H. Leave when the party is really rocking.
I. etc.... fill in yours here
I'll stop there. Add your selections in the comments.
I'm leaving when the party is perfect. And that perfection leaves the memory perfect in my mind. I don't have to embellish the perfection. It's there - captured for a living moment - and I'm completely aware of the perfect moment as it happens.
As now. As I say goodbye to all the places I love. In the coming days, many of my posts will be about the places in the bay area I love so dearly.
How often are you aware what is perfect? And that that "perfection" ends at every instant. Every moment. And then returns and is different kind of perfection.

I've been known to do: A, D, E, F, G, H, and I: leave when the last person leaves.
I think I notice perfection best in retrospect, but there certainly have been times when it hits me while I'm experiencing it, and I try to savor every moment.
Best of luck to you, wherever you go.
Posted by: yoko | March 17, 2004 at 08:01 AM