I could start this post by talking about how quickly time passes, but I’m going to save that for another post. Regardless, I can hardly believe I’ve been living in San Francisco for four years. It simultaneously feels like I just moved here and that I’ve been here for years and years. I think I get to know a neighborhood, and then everything changes – new restaurants, bars, parks, buildings. There is always something to do, a new place to try, a crevasse of this limitless urban playground.

The city is vibrant. Alive.

Year four was big. There was no dull moment. Not even for a second.

Year four was a lot about discovery. It was about coming down from the whirlwind that was the previous year in San Francisco. It was about stepping back and evaluating. It was about making life choices that were more selfish than I’m used to. It was about learning that I can (and should) do more things for myself. It was about balance and finding it, and then recognizing when I lose it again.

My fourth year in San Francisco started out with a vacation  My grandparents have a timeshare for the summer months on Coronado island and I’ve gone every summer since I can remember. This time, The Boyfriend came with me. We relaxed for the weekend and escaped the city for the beach.

Paris. Last year, I went to Paris. It was quite the excursion, but I’m so glad I did it. I tacked on an extra day to the end of a work trip in London (yes, I know how lucky I am that I get to travel to London for work) and decided to take a little solo tour. It was definitely a memory. And the experience may be somewhat responsible for my increased awareness in “paying it forward.”

Earlier in the summer, The Boyfriend and I had been talking about moving in together. I was on a month to month lease with my little studio, and he was ready to move out of his “room” in the Sunset. So, we were casually looking, waiting for the perfect place in the perfect location for the perfect price to come along. When my friend Julie told me her plans to officially move to London so her boyfriend could go to school, I (of course) expressed my excitement and how much I’d miss them, while asking them about the status of their apartment. And just like that, the perfect place in the perfect neighborhood (3 blocks from my old apartment) for the perfect price fell into our laps. In October, after being together for a year and nine months, we moved in together! It’s been mostly blissful since. 🙂

I hosted my very first Thanksgiving. I wish Casi could have joined, but it was a lot of fun (and stress) to host Thanksgiving. My mom flew out and helped with all the cooking. We had so.much.food. Including, of course, a bacon-wrapped turkey. Yes. Wrapped in bacon. NOM. I was so thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my closest friends and mama.

I majorly hit my Vegas max last year. Nine days. In Las Vegas. For two (ish) conferences. It was pretty nightmarish and I think it took be just as long to recover.

I played too much gin rummy and ate too many homemade Greek desserts in Arizona visiting my grandparents for Hannukah. But it was during this trip I really started to embrace the idea of doing things for me – even if that means doing absolutely nothing. It helped to take myself out of the fast-paced city life and take a few days to recalibrate and regain some balance.

My younger brother came to visit for New Years and we had a blast. This was his first time in San Francisco while being 21, so we explored many bars and many whisky drinks. My brother is one of my very best friends, and I’m so thrilled at how close we’ve become over the years.

Per tradition, my dad came out to visit for my birthday. Every year. We ate, drank, explored San Francisco, saw the most amazing sunset by the Golden Gate Bridge, experienced a very nice man in the hotel lobby wearing a trench coat and underwear, we laughed, talked, and just spent time together. Amazing per usual.

I set a few goals for 2013. Most of which I am still focusing on halfway through the year. I re-read my post on these words of focus for the year and remember what’s truly important.

The Boyfriend and I spent our third Valentine’s Day together. A little French restaurant, sitting next to an OBGYN gabbing about placenta. How romantic. In all seriousness, though, The Boyfriend is the best. I couldn’t be happier than when I’m with him. We’ve had some tough talks this past year, and we’ve been adjusting to really living together. But, he makes me better, encourages me to grow, supports me, deals with me, loves me. I am The Luckiest.

On the topic of what’s truly important, I took a vacation with four of my college girlfriends. We all met down in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and spent a long weekend together. Good, real friends are hard to find. I know that’s cliche to say, but it’s true. Nothing compares to the history that we all share. The experiences we’ve all been through together. The ups and the downs. The times we were there for each other. The times we laughed and the times we cried. The mistakes we made. And the complete lack of judgement that exists among these friends is irreplaceable. Our weekend together was a reminder of what true friendship is and that no distance or time can get between us.

I did a lot of exploring outside of San Francisco city limits this past year. The Boyfriend and I have been using Airbnb quite a bit and our first trip away was staying in a little “treehouse” yurt in Santa Rosa. We loved hiking up to the Stargazer Hut in the rain, reading, writing, cooking and relaxing in this little room for a long weekend. Then, I randomly got offered a Cadillac XTS for another long weekend. We decided to take the car and drive up north. We stayed in Fort Bragg, explored glass beach, enjoyed some good (and bad) food, drove through the biggest ever redwoods of all time, and thoroughly enjoyed the Cadillac (who knew?!).

This past year was also a little tough. My best friend in San Francisco, Casi, quit her job and her and her husband left SF to go travel the world. While I miss her so incredibly much, thanks to the power of social media, I’m able to see what they’re doing and where they are. And I’ve gotta say, half of the time I’m just straight up jealous of the beaches and adult beverages she’s enjoying. If you want to be jealous, too, follow their adventures!

Then, as if it was a mass exodus, Becca moved to New York. Clear across the country. I miss the wine nights, not wearing real pants, walking down to her apartment barefoot, shopping, laughing, and talking about absolutely everything. Don’t worry, we still do Google hangouts (every once in a while) and I’m looking forward to going to NY and seeing her the end of this month!

Even though my friend circle has decreased, I am extremely thankful that I persuaded Rachael to move to San Francisco. That was probably the best thing I did. Maybe ever. We’ve gotten so close over the past year – I feel like, in so many ways, she’s my other half. We just get each other. The good stuff, the not-so-pretty stuff. All the stuff. Those kinds of friends are hard to come by, so I’m sorry (I’m not sorry), Rach, but I’m gonna squeeze on pretty tightly.

My team at Adobe went through some changes – some people leaving, others coming on. After these shifts, I feel like I’m just getting back on my feet. But, despite the change, I got one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.

In May, The Boyfriend and I went to Colorado for my brother’s graduation. Yes. I said graduation. And no. I can’t believe it either. I have never felt as old as I did sitting in Coors Events Center in Boulder watching my little brother graduate college. I am so proud of the person he’s become and all that he’s achieved. Welcome to adulthood, B!

While in Colorado, I was able to spend a good amount of time (although no amount of time is enough) with my bestie. Her baby girl is three. THREE. My best friend has a THREE-YEAR-OLD. And she’s adorable. And she called me Auntie Lo, so she can have whatever the hell she wants for the rest of her life. I’m still the actual luckiest to have a friend like Ali. Through thick and thin no matter how many miles. She is my heart.

As I mentioned, I did a lot of thinking this past year. I took a few steps back and started to become more aware of what is truly important, what is in our control, and what isn’t. I’m trusting the Universe a little bit more while focusing on making time for the important things. Balance. Focus. Peace.

I did some spontaneous things this past year. I had dinner with strangers. I did a few good deeds (again, with the Paris and paying it forward). Went to a few concerts (The XX, Dispatch & Guster). I joined the gym 10 feet from my apartment. I moved offices. Rachael and I took the boys to a super hippie but also awesome retreat in Albana (think hot springs and massages given by ancient women). I took a solo road trip to Cambria to visit my wonderful friend Liz (I can’t wait for her wedding in a couple months!). And I didn’t write nearly enough on this blog.

The Fourth of July always holds a special place in my heart. Not only do we celebrate our independence with BBQ and fireworks, but it also marks another anniversary of living in San Francisco. This year, we celebrated in Sonoma and I couldn’t have picked a better place and better people to spend it with.

This city has been good to me. I didn’t really know if I’d be living in San Francisco for this long. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else right now. That, and I just joined a wine club, so I’m here for at least another year. 🙂

Smiles from San Francisco!

One Year

Two Years

Three Years