Go west, old woman!

[mamagotcha]

As faithful readers of this blog (shout-out to both of you!) know, I'm gearing up for a trip to California. I'm already planning to connect with qarin, pyrokaren, paulaandandrew, genderfur, lunacow, otherwise_nyc, cheesepuppet and mh75.

If any of you other LJ rockstars would like to get together (I think I'll be near essaying, corva, sarafoop, vialens, vito_excalibur, rubrick, treboresque, zdamiana), comment here and I'll start making plans with you... while a big group thing is always a blast, I'm feeling more introspective and hoping for more f2f or smaller group interactions on this trip.

I'm also looking forward to the possibility of meeting in person several friends who I've only gotten to know recently through LJ (kightp, kwalton, serenejournal, wordweaverlynn, imnotandrei, pantryslut, I'm looking at you). Say the word and we'll make a visit happen!

I fly in on the 4th and visit family in Sonoma through the 6th. I'll have a vehicle and Linc, and up until the 11th, possibly Cordell, Julia and/or Clayton as well, so I've got to keep them in mind as I set up our visits... and as you might have surmised, I'm planning to stay in CA longer than I originally intended, so I can drive up through Oregon and Washington (possibly in the splendid company of qarin and her daughters). Nothing is set in stone, but I'm thinking Bay Area visits could happen Jan. 7 (Santa Cruz?), 8 (Sunnyvale?) and 9 (Alameda?), start heading up to Shasta Jan. 10 (with a morning stop in Davis?), hit Portland on the 11th, Seattle on the 13th or 14th, head over to Ellensburg on the 16th, hit Spokane on the 18th, head home around the 20th (happy birthday, g4n0nd0rk!).

I can't wait to see you all!

Comments

[ennienyc.livejournal.com]

New York flows through my blood. I can't be anywhere else for long without getting really antsy.

I think California (or at least the West Coast) does this for you, and you already sound more upbeat and alive.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. I heard beat poet Gary Snyder lecture on a sense of place in college, and thought I didn't really have one of my own, since I'd moved from SF to Pacifica to Sonoma to Davis so easily. I had no idea that those places were really so similar to each other as to have caused relatively little disruption, or the depth of the roots I'd set down in the 20 years I spent in Davis. I was incredibly naive and foolish to leave, but I did.

If I can somehow manage to find my way back, I'm never moving away again. Travel, yes... but my home, my garden, my bed will be the place that flows through my blood.

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Bean and I talk about this a lot. She talks about when she went to Europe, and the light was wrong, as she puts it.

[mh75.livejournal.com]

looking forward to your visit!

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

I've got the 6th, 7th, and 8th off work. I'll let you know about further scheduling limitations as I get them (dunno what time you're arriving Friday, but I'll be working 2:30-6:30).

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see you if it works out with your schedule. I'm carless for the foreseeable future, so something on the BART line or at my place would be ideal.

(If you see kightp, give her a big hug for me.)

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

We must definitely hang out. I will not be in school yet, so my schedule is more flexible. Let me know what's good for you.

[otherwise-nyc.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, sounds like you are headed away before I get there!

Julia has already mentioned having a big bash in CA for her birthday, and I expect to be able to be there, so I hope I'll see you then.

I'm disappointed! But I will try hard to see Julia this trip.

***Enormous hugs***

I'm so glad you're getting to spend some time on the West Coast.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like I'm going to have to return the rental car to Oakland... the "drop-off fee" for most companies seems to be in the neighborhood of $600-800! So I'll add a few days and drive back down... how long are you here?

[otherwise-nyc.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Until the 23rd, as I recall. Hope I can see you on the way back!

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.... do you have AIM on your phone? (i know you twitter from there...)... i'm KatjeSabin

send me a note and let's talk...