My Second Home

My trip to Napa was just what I needed as a time to get away from the stresses even if for just a short time. It is true that I love a good glass of wine and I like learning about new wines and getting an appreciation for where it comes from. The largest producer of wine in the entire USA comes directly from Napa as it is one of the only areas in the entire country that has all the right elements for grape growing. And while my initial reasoning for going to Napa was that it was somewhere Mike had never been and a place where we could try new types of wine, it was also the fact that California, no matter where in the state, has been a place that I always long to go to and a place that always make me feel at home as weird as that may sound. The weather, the scenery, the smells, the palm trees all give me comfort and give me a certain joy that I don't otherwise get here especially during the winters. Immediately when I get off the plane, I feel that I am where I belong. I am sure that part of it is the connection I will always have to grandma and grandpa McDonald and the fact that I spent a lot of time there with Jenna who was at one time such an integral part of my life. And for a long time it was like a second home. Mike and I have always talked about where we would like to live someday - he is partial to Florida and me to California. But since I have essentially dragged him to San Diego and now San Francisco & Napa, he is coming around to my line of thinking. I truly believe we will end up there someday most realistically as a potential retirement locale (so don't worry - not planning to up and move any time soon!) but in the meantime, I plan to take numerous vacations back there and I know I will enjoy every visit. However if JPMorgan ever decides to buy a west coast bank, I might be the first to raise my hand to relocate!!'

In other news - I am more than relieved that the house has finally sold. I am hopeful that everything will go smoothly until closing on June 30th. I imagine that the finality of the house selling will hit me at that point and I will officially be sad to let my very first home purchase go.

The new house is still coming along. We finally have sod in the front and the back yard and sides have been seeded. Mike and I probably look really silly standing out on our deck looking to see how much grass is coming up. Mike has taken to tending to the new lawn - funny he never cared as much in the townhouse and let me do all the work! He is meticulous about watering it and we have toured the neighborhood looking for some good landscaping ideas.