House update, a month later

It’s been just over a month since we moved into the house, so it occurs to me this would be a good time to re-evaluate our expectations going into it. You know me, I document everything. I recall your attention to the list I made two months ago, before we’d moved in. Here’s how everything stacks up now:

Needs:
1. Pets: The kitties are enjoying the space and the intense afternoon sunshine, but Tisha still hasn’t found his “spot” yet and it’s making him a little whiney. He is wandering the kitchen, mewing, as I type this.
2. Thick walls: Not only can we not hear our neighbors, the walls inside the house are of decent thickness as well.
3. Earthquakes: Well, we haven’t had one yet *knocks on wood*. And we still haven’t completely restocked our emergency supplies yet, so we’d better get on that.
4. Quiet street: Yop. And there are at least six other cats living on this street!
5. Safe neighborhood: No complaints yet.
6. Good natural light by my desk: Yes.
Needs comment: We’re good, except for the earthquakes as always.

Wants (for the neighborhood), organized in descending order of importance:
1. Local walking/hiking areas: OMG, we’re so happy. Within walking distance of the house, we can enter Wildcat Canyon Park and ramble amid rolling green hills, wildflowers, and eucalyptus groves. Last night we stood atop one of these hills and watched the sunset while a local cat trotted along the paths and a group of birds called raucously to each other. It was ridiculously idyllic. Ridylliculous. The park is great because you can get in a strenuous uphill hike (in partial shade) in some areas, or you can enter from a different gate and eat at the picnic tables and play on the playground, or you can come in the way we did and enjoy a gentle ramble… and it’s really a ramble too, because the trails in some of the areas are narrow and wind through the grasses in a very natural way.
2. Farmers’ markets: There are lots around here, but we haven’t decided yet which one will be our regular market.
3. Asian markets: We’ve been to Ranch 99 probably two or three times each week since we moved in. I have also discovered that there are Thai and Laotian markets in San Pablo, but I suspect these are not in great neighborhoods, so I’ve been hesitant to seek them out. But I will.
4. Libraries: These have been a bit disappointing, I confess. We’ve been to three Contra Costa County libraries and the Richmond Main Library, and they’ve all been kind of small and sad-looking; the San Pablo library is actually in a strip mall, across from a supermarket and cheap Chinese takeout place. But the El Cerrito branch, though tiny, is cute and seems well-used. If I ever need to do research — which I might — I will probably pay for privileges at the UC Berkeley libraries.
5. Yoga: I’ve been taking a deeply wonderful class on Fridays with a teacher named Kimber, but once a week isn’t nearly enough, and I kind of don’t like making such a long drive (20-25 minutes) just for one class. I need to figure out what to do about this.
6. Natural-food store: I had thought we’d have to drive to Berkeley’s Whole Foods, but it turns out there’s a great employee-owned natural grocery in El Cerrito, a block away from the library and just a short drive from Trader Joe’s, Petco, etc. Already I adore this grocery store.
7. Public transit: The closest BART stop is two highway exits away from us, but I still haven’t figured out yet how we will make use of it. When Bright stayed with us, we drove her there and she took BART to Berkeley for her research, but when when we’re out for errands and things — where we have multiple stops, and lots of stuff to carry — it’s easier to drive (especially since we can’t get to BART without driving in the first place).
8. Literacy programs: The CCC libraries are so depressing, I’m shamefully hesitant to sign myself up for tutor training. Also, I still don’t feel settled enough to commit to a lengthy program. (Although, in other literacy news, one of my Echo Park pairs wrote a touching piece for the LAPL literacy newsletter. I’m so proud of them!!)
9. Art/craft stores: I’ve seen them, but haven’t needed to go yet.
10. Bookstores: It is truly disturbing how many books I’ve acquired since we’ve moved. We’ve been to new bookstores, used bookstores, library booksales… every night Erik and I have reading time, where we just sit in bed and read. And still I can’t keep up with the rate of acquisition. I’d better watch out or one day I will wake up and find myself buried in books and unable to escape.
11. University setting: We’re close enough to Berkeley to feel like part of the campus community, but far enough to enjoy the distance.
12. Rock climbing: We haven’t tried out the area’s climbing gyms, but we will.
Neighborhood comment: We didn’t know anything about San Pablo when we signed the lease, and we were anxious about that, but we needn’t have worried at all. Everything is so much more convenient than we ever expected. Our regular errands make an easy loop from our house, and we’ve gone to Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco several times without taking much time at all. We will also soon have more friends in the area: Bright is moving to Berkeley in the fall, and Erik’s brother Elbert is moving to San Rafael (half an hour from us) tomorrow. Yay friends!!

Wants (for the unit), organized in descending order of importance:
1. Air circulation: No complaints. It’s still a bit chilly to have windows open in the mornings, but in the afternoon we let the breezes in.
2. Natural light: Excellent. I think we’ll have to put up curtains against the west-facing sliding doors in the summer, but for now, we’re loving the bright sunshine (and so are the kitties).
3. Kitchen: It’s fabulous. I had worried about counter space, but that hasn’t been a problem. I had also worried about the size of the gas range, but that hasn’t bothered us yet either, and the range is such a good one that it’s a pleasure to cook on it. And the dishwasher! Oh, the dishwasher!
4. Rent: Still expensive, but we are having such a good time.
5. Parking: Not even an issue.
6. Office space: The third bedroom is the most homey little sanctum for me to work in… Erik claims he’s happy working on the bed or sprawled on the living room floor, and he certainly looks fine there, but I feel kind of guilty he doesn’t have desk space. Still, I suppose it’s up to him… and once we get a dining table, he can work there too.
7. Okay to leave windows open at night: Yes, though we haven’t tried it yet — it’s been too cold.
8. Outdoor space: I spent nearly two hours yesterday outside on the deck and in the side yard, weeding and planting things, and I was very happy. We’ve taken several meals out on the deck as well, and every time we do, it feels like we’re on vacation. I suspect that being here will totally change how I live, in terms of time spent outdoors.
9. Recycling: It feels like riches to have an entire recycling bin to ourselves!
10. Air conditioning: We’ll find out within a few months whether the no-A/C will be a problem.
11. Houseguests: We have had an almost nonstop stream of houseguests since we’ve moved here, and it’s been delightful. Our guest room is all set up to accommodate a friend or couple-friends, the house is perfect for entertaining, and the area fun to take people around in.
12. DISHWASHER = happy.
13. Hardwood floors: No, but the carpet is nice, and so are the tile floors (though they do get very cold sometimes).
14. Laundry: Now that we have our own machines (which we bought for a very reasonable price from the landlord’s sister), we can do laundry ANYTIME. For FREE. After nine years of apartment and dorm living, this is as good as it gets.
15. Convenient space for litterbox: We’ve found one.
16. Houseness = so spacious and nice-feeling!
17. No bathtub big enough for two, but I do really like our showers.
House comment: Srsly, we are so happy here, it’s like the house has put a spell on us. I wake up every morning just elated to be living here, living the way we do. If only we weren’t right on the Hayward Fault, I think we’d have to start bugging the landlords to let us buy the house from them. 😉

And here, for your further perusal, is a selection of reviews from family and friends:
“Your house is like paradise! It’s on a hill, and next to Ranch 99!”
–sister-in-law Emily

“You’re living like millionaires!”
–Caroline

“Really nice.”
–Erik’s brother Elbert

“Your garage has bad feng shui. That’s why they hung that thing over the door, did you notice?”
–Mommy

“Mrauw! Mraaaauuuuuwww!”
–Tisha
[translation: “What have you done with the couch?!?!?!”]

I know, I know, we still need to post more pictures. I’ll try to remember to do that later today, when the light is warmer.