San Francisco Skyline

Our Final Days as San Francisco Residents

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Today is our last official day in San Francisco. It’s more bittersweet than I thought, but truth be told, I’m absolutely stoked to start the next chapter in our lives back in the South. But there are things I’m definitely going to miss…

I’ll miss that hour just before sunset when the city looks ablaze.

I’ll miss the view of the coast on a crisp day.

I’ll miss San Francisco’s landmarks, like Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid, that don’t allow this city to be mistaken for anything (or anybody) else.

I’ll miss the sight of the bay and Alcatraz unfolding before me, as I drive over the hill on Divisadero from our apartment (which is no longer our apartment tomorrow) to the Marina. (I won’t, however, miss the actual hills themselves.)

I’ll miss the quirky, creative souls that pepper the city.

I’ll miss the Golden Gate Bridge, oh how I will miss her.

I won’t, on the other hand, miss the fog, not one bit. That much I can do without.

I’ll miss the view from above; we’ve now seen it from commercial plane, blimp and Cessna piloted by SVV.

I’ll miss the murky green hue of the Bay (water, I should say, that while pretty I would never put a big toe in!).

That said, I’m ready for a change and to find all the things I love about the city that will be my new—and, hopefully, permanent—home. While I may leave (a piece of) my heart in San Francisco, a much larger chunk of it has always been waiting for me back in the South. Besides, as it turns out, I’m taking the best part of San Francisco away with me.

COMMENTS
  • July 29, 2011

    Good photos, Kristin. Especially like the second one, captures the steep streets and the colourful houses nicely.

  • July 29, 2011

    This is so sweet it almost made me cry–and I don’t even live in San Francisco! Good luck on your move and I’m excited to hear about the new adventures that await you in the south.

  • July 29, 2011

    Wonderful photos of San Francisco!

  • July 29, 2011

    I love this, especially the end part! San Francisco stole a little piece of my heart back in October when we visited and I think we’ll be back there one day to visit again.
    Happy moving day!!!!!

  • July 29, 2011

    What fabulous photos – wishing you the best of luck in your new state.

  • July 29, 2011

    awwe sweet – i loved the end. 🙂 great photos!

  • July 29, 2011

    Beautiful photos and beautiful sentiment – the last line was perfect! So sweet!

  • July 29, 2011

    Way to make me cry on a Friday morning, KRISTIN.

    California will miss you!

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      The South needs some Sarah in its life. Perhaps you should come visit me in my new/old stomping grounds? =)

  • July 29, 2011

    Gorgeous photos, gorgeous post, I’m fighting tears and goosebumps right now. Safe travels, my dear!

    xox

  • July 29, 2011

    what a beautiful post. your love of place shines through!

  • July 29, 2011

    And San Francisco will miss you too! Well, I can’t speak for the CITY, but the people in it sure will.

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      I’m still owed a house tour of the fanciest DIY home renovation I’ve ever seen, so don’t think I won’t return with that being my sole motivating force! =)

  • July 29, 2011

    I always miss the view of the city, coming across the bridge from the north. It really is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen. I don’t, however, miss driving in it. I nearly kill myself every time I visit.

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      The weird thing is that while living in NYC, I would never even *contemplate* driving there, but after four years of driving in San Francisco, I now think New York would be a breeze!

  • July 29, 2011

    I got super sad about this last night, and now I’m doing it all over again. We’re so sad to lose you, but we’re definitely better for knowing you, and we’ll come see you in your new home SOON!

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      Don’t get me started! Leaving your house the other night nearly made me weep–and I haven’t shed a tear (yet) over this whole ordeal! We’ll miss you three more than you know (and be coming back for visits for that very reason!).

  • July 29, 2011

    This made me homesick! I always say, on a nice day, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Of course, there are plenty of not-so-nice days, but it’s a trade-off.

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      The not-so-nice days definitely make it much easier to leave. It’s been cold and gray and, yes, foggy for the whole two weeks we’ve been back. I think it would be a lot harder to leave on Sunday if we’d had a stretch of beautiful days, because like you said, on a nice day, it IS truly one of the most beautiful places in the world!

  • July 29, 2011

    Oh, I love that hour before sunset in San Francisco!

    GOOD LUCK! Can’t wait to hear all about getting settled, when you do, post-SAS!

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      If it’s not a foggy day, I honestly think there are few prettier places on Earth than San Francisco as the sun sets. The shades of pink and orange and yellow are just fantastic!

  • July 29, 2011

    And now I miss home 🙁

  • July 29, 2011

    WEEP! Oh there is such a specific feeling when you leave one city for another. I have made a giant move like this (the kind where you leave a life behind, not just a city) four times in my life and that feeling of closing one chapter and opening another is so uniquely full of excitement, sadness and gratitude. Wishing you guys a safe and swift move! So glad I got to hang out with you while you were a Californian. I’m better for it!

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      Luckily, you’re like one exit from my in-laws, so I have a feeling there will be many more brunches in our future =)

  • July 29, 2011

    What a fantastic post to say goodbye – and such beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing with us!

    ~Becca

  • July 29, 2011

    So sad! I didn’t realize you were leaving. Good luck with your move.

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      I need sunshine! My pallor is appalling =)

  • July 29, 2011
    Steve

    You’re leaving just as I’m arriving. Was it something I said? Just kidding. Best of luck!

    When you travel back to the west side, we’ll have to discuss all those mean things you said about SF (some of which I agree with, but I’m trying to stay in my “appreciation phase”).

    Btw, awesome shots. Did you take them on the blimp you mentioned?

    • July 29, 2011
      Kristin

      Haha, I know! What horrible timing. You and Spence both arrive, I flee town. Well, if I have anything to say about it, I’ll try to keep as many California assignments as I can (*hint, hint*) so we can have our regular happy hours and food truck follies. I do have my in-laws in the East Bay and a number of friends with spare rooms (say what?) in the city…

      I didn’t mean to be mean about San Francisco! When it comes down to it, I think if it were just a little bit warmer, I could overlook some of the other stuff (well, maybe not the meter maids…those guys will always be bitches). And it took me until year four to lose that appreciation; it took me four years to reach this point, so you’ve got some good times ahead of you! =)

      Photo #8 was taken from the blimp; photo #9 was from the plane Scott piloted last week (my Christmas present to him last year). All the rest were from hotel rooms/Coit Tower/Telegraph Hill!

  • July 29, 2011

    This makes me nostalgic to visit again. I love the colorful houses and the hills.

  • July 29, 2011

    It sounds like such an exciting time. I hope the transition is easy but exciting.

  • July 29, 2011

    So very sweet, what a great love letter to the city.
    Here’s to your new chapter! I can’t wait to hear all about it!

    • July 31, 2011
      Kristin

      I still can’t believe our timing! GRRRRRRRR. At least now I know where to find you when I come back to visit =)

  • July 29, 2011

    My husband grew up in San Francisco city proper and has never stopped missing it. It really does take a piece of your heart. Good luck in your new home!

    • July 30, 2011
      Kristin

      Thanks, Sonja! I’m more excited to leave than I am missing everything so far….I hope it stays that way =)

  • July 30, 2011

    Some terrific shots here. Its an easy place to miss, truly a great city.

  • July 30, 2011

    Beautiful post. I’m currently missing Charleston, my second home. I’m working on a post about the things I miss most about it. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Nashvegas! My aunt lives there so hopefully I will be back that way next year.

    • July 31, 2011
      Kristin

      I would love to see you in Nashville! Or Charleston…or the ATL…or Charlotte…or anywhere else in the glorious South where our paths might cross!

  • July 30, 2011

    Great shot of the marine layer rolling in on the bridge… I love this town!

  • July 30, 2011

    A photo nice tribute to your city. I really like the first shot.

  • July 30, 2011

    SF will miss you to! Good luck on the open seas!

    • July 31, 2011
      Kristin

      Boo that we never got to meet up! But I’ll be back semi-frequently post-Semester at Sea–drinks with Spence then? =)

      • July 31, 2011

        No worries! Yes, if you are ever in the city for a visit let me know and I’d love to get drinks with you and Spence. Wishing you the best of luck!

  • July 30, 2011

    So sad to leave… San Francisco is magical!

  • July 31, 2011
    leslie

    So excited to read about the next chapters unfolding…page by page as you write them. Safe travels friend.

  • July 31, 2011

    Great photos of the Coit Tower! Glad I was able to get that personal drive from you. What a beautiful day we had that day! The second photo is absolutely gorgeous. You have to go where your heart leads you, though. Lots of hugs and good fortune wishes! xo

    • August 1, 2011
      Kristin

      That was my one and only time going up the tower! Don’t know if I can handle that elevator again…they might need to install stairs first 😉

  • August 1, 2011
    Auntie Joy

    Gorgeous photos — and we will all miss YOU. As for fog — that is the quintessential attribute, and something that I miss terribly. I miss being lullabyed to sleep by the fog horns on a foggy night. I miss walking in a thick, heavy fog — all whispery quiet and mysterious, fresh cool damp air on my cheeks, the utter peacefulness. Bad for driving, but wonderful when walking in the park or along the beach. … Fare well, Kristin, SVV, Ella. Safe journey. And keep posting this wonderful blog and those great pictures!

    • August 1, 2011
      Kristin

      I’m not much for cold weather, so think I would take the 100 degrees and 1000% humidity of a Southern summer over the heavy, wet weight of the fog…I’m just such a sun whore! =)

      And THANKS for the brownies–would you judge if I told you there was only one left (and Scott has yet to eat any?)?

      • August 1, 2011
        Auntie Joy

        I wouldn’t DREAM of oinking – er JUDGING, that’s the word — I wouldn’t dream of judging! Tell Scott “You snooze, you loose.” Let me know when you’re settled, and I’ll send a full batch. An empty brownie plate is the highest compliment – thank you!

  • August 1, 2011

    WOW! Great photos – it makes me miss San Fran and I’ve never lived there! Good luck you two – what an exciting adventure you’re setting out on.

  • August 1, 2011

    Love that last pic so much, you have SUCH beautiful memories, memories that will last you a lifetime!!!

  • August 1, 2011

    A nice photo tribute to a wonderful city.

  • August 1, 2011

    Awww, this was really touching. Although, I think you should have put a pic of a parking ticket in there for good measure. 😉 Seriously though, wonderful photos of your “home.” It’s a very sweet love letter to San Fran. Safe journey to Nashville!!

    • August 1, 2011
      Kristin

      Haha, for a dose of reality, yes! And maybe a picture from Off the Grid for an example of what I really saw on a regular basis! =)

  • August 2, 2011

    Oh how I loved San Francisco when we were there. I could totally live there if it weren’t for my fear of earthquakes and love to warmth and sun. 🙁

    Beautiful pictures!

    • August 3, 2011
      Kristin

      I’m with you, sista! I thought I could handle the cold weather–because on one hand, while it’s freezing in the summer, it’s sunny and 65 in January and February–but NOPE. Not happening! I prayed daily (and I’m not much of a prayer) that there wouldn’t be a quake before I left…four years here and I wasn’t in a single one!

  • August 2, 2011

    I have never been to San Francisco but it really does sound like a wonderful city to live in. Love the yoga out in the open.

  • August 2, 2011

    The city ain’t going anywhere…unless it falls into the ocean during the next earthquake…other than that….

    • August 3, 2011
      Kristin

      True, I have a feeling I’ll be back often–and enjoy it then much more than I did as a resident when I was trying to ward off SFMTA with every move! =)

  • August 3, 2011

    Aw what a sweet post. It’s always bittersweet starting a new chapter but SFO will still be there to visit!

  • August 3, 2011
    Sara

    So how I felt about moving from Vail to Houston…glad to be home, but really miss the views!! Pretty pics!

  • August 4, 2011
    JeJe

    That last observation is most accurate statement you have made in your whole life! I should know…

  • August 6, 2011

    whenever I’ve moved, all kinds of things that I love about a place that I hadn’t really thought about before occur to me. Beautiful piece and thanks for taking me along! Look forward to hearing more about your move (and to having another blogging friend in this quadrant 🙂

    • August 6, 2011
      Kristin

      I only just realized you’re based in South Carolina! Southern meet-up in 2012? =)

  • August 7, 2011

    Glorious photos! Great to see photos of our old stomping grounds again. You know if you go a bit farther south… say to oh I dont know EL Salvador you can bask in warm humid air that is like “lotion on your skin” as my lovely bride says. Just sayin…

  • August 11, 2011

    I love the second photo! Now that’s San Fran ;D

  • August 14, 2011

    I’m in SF this month 🙂 I had no idea that THAT is teh coit tower. I’ve heard the tower mentioned and seen that building, obviously, but didn’t realize that was it. Awesome! I’ve been here since the first and while there have been clear days, today is the first day that it’s actually SO CLEAR that I can see the hills from the castro (the hills are always covered by fog around here)

    And seriously, the hills. My legs are looking awesome 🙂

  • August 26, 2011

    Gorgeous! I haven’t been to SF in years, but these photos take me back. Even though you’ll miss it, at least you have beautiful photos like this to look back on, right?? 🙂

    Sara

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