After a season of travel through the windiest regions of Central America, we returned home from a steamy Panama to the cool California, Ahhh. It was a summer of few photos, but we enjoyed seeing friends and family again.
We started out staying with my friend Dennis Olson and attending Gus Beam’s Wedding. Gus is the son of Marconi Cove Yacht Club member, Mark Peters… I have known Gus since the car seat days and he is now an attorney practicing in Sacramento. The bride and groom have known each other since middle school and witnessing their marriage was our pleasure.
After wearing out our welcome at the Olson’s, we moved over to our old neighbors Mike and Carrolyn’s place in Ballena Bay. Centrally located in the Bay Area, we were able to visit with old friends and have my long awaited vitrectomy. After a career spent advising patients to avoid this procedure, which among other things removes floaters (good), but also has a risk of causing retina detachments (bad). I found myself so troubled by the floaters, which started in our first year of cruising, that I sought treatment, breaking my own advice. Dr. Michael Jumper did an excellent job and my vision is much better. I still have a large floater in my left eye, but having one good eye is a huge improvement and I doubt I will proceed with the left eye.
Rockridge Cafe after Vitrectomy.. been eating there since the 80’s
I had a follow up a few days later and then we were off to Soda Springs.
In Soda Springs, our sailing friends Lou, Patrice and Bear have a house, and put us up for a few days to enjoy the Tahoe area magnificence.
We enjoyed a quick visit with our cruising friends, Tod and Donna, in Grass Valley before our return to the Bay Area to catch a flight; we were off to St Louis.
My optometry license goes away permanently in April 2020, so I decided to move it to New Mexico, where work seems to be plentiful. There is a shortage of optometrists in the state, and being of relatively sound mind and body (some might argue) I don’t think I would mind working a few days a week. So off we went to St Louis for the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting for some continuing education. It felt good to engage my brain in my old profession.
We loved Saint Louis. Lisa found us an AirBNB that saved us hundreds of dollars over the conference rate. A short walk through the campus of the Washington School of Medicine and then a short light rail to the conference downtown.
We stayed a week in St Louis and enjoyed a trip to the famous arch. I never realized it was made of welded stainless steel plate. We took the trip to the top in little trolleys (not for claustrophobics) that tip as the car moves up the curved legs of the arch keeping the occupants vertical. At the top, a fantastic view of the capital and the ball park.
On the last day, we took a stroll through one of St. Louis’ great old neighborhoods near Forest Park. A man working in his front yard told us these homes sold between 800K and 1.2 Million or so. Lots of old, beautiful square feet for the dollar… not so sure about the maintenance.
Then off to New Mexico.
First stop was a visit to my parents in Roy. They are 89, and I am blessed to have both of them. My mom had pulled a muscle in her leg and was in a lot of pain. After a couple hospital visits, I thought finally we would convince them to move closer to my brother Christopher in Farmington (7 hours away). But, after a few days of better medication management, her pain subsided somewhat, and all bets were off. Now they are once again adamant about living the rest of their days on their ranch. I respect their wishes, though it is very worrisome for me. I feel cursed that they won’t listen to me, but everyone makes their own choices and I have to live with that.
After a lot of driving, we retreated to my brother’s house in Farmington. Great spending time with them and in some ways getting to know them better.
My nephew Mason turned 16.
In the middle of it all Sandy’s mom died. I suited up and flew to Southern California for her funeral. Jeanette is now at Mount Sinai in Hollywood close to her husband Webster and Sandy whom she missed terribly. For the 12 years since her death all Jeanette could talk about was rejoining Sandy in the afterlife. She will be missed. My mother in law was a generous and giving person who welcomed me into her family. I am certain that there was some disappointment that Sandy had not married a Jew, but I always felt welcomed by her entire family. Rest in Peace
Two years ago we purchased property (with two houses) on the Animas river in Farmington. The tenants in the larger house vacated in August and then from the smaller Casita in September. We took the opportunity to camp out in the big house for two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a pleasure to enjoy a cool drink by the river each evening as the sun was going down. This house distracts us from cruising some as we plan modifications to the property. Susan, one of the outgoing tenants, shared a couple of pictures of the property during last years more extreme winter. We remain determined to enjoy cruising as long as possible, as it would feel foolish to abandon this until we are truly done. Perhaps with a modified schedule that includes staying in Farmington with temporary work and family for the summers during hurricane season.
We were concerned to be leaving with both houses empty, but a week later the management company called to tell us that both units had been rented. 🙂
For our last week in the states we were back to Alameda where we enjoyed a week in Felicia’s Yoga Room. Fun cooking together with Felicia and Paul in their beautiful Bay Street home.
Even though it wasn’t October yet the Halloween season was starting to emerge near Bay Street, famous for its thousands of trick or treaters who attend the festivities on this heavily decorated area of Alameda. Here’s a link to this house from 2017 (I think)
Being in Alameda meant a great dinner with Allison and her husband Jerry and a trip to Berkeley Bowl to bring some goodies as our contribution. At the end of the meal, Lisa looked at her watch and exclaimed “It’s after midnight”….
Berkeley Bowl Cheese
We love our trips back to the US, but we hate living out of a suitcase. A trip to the states means accumulating thousands of dollars worth of replacement boat parts, carrying clothes for 5 months, shlepping a couple of computers, and camera gear which this year included a drone that needed repair. The beauty of traveling by boat is the ability to travel to new places with your home. On the boat we don’t lose stuff.
We Don’t Pack Light
Thank you to all who hosted us this summer!