why do I blog?
March 11th, 2007 @ 11:18 pm | blonde moments | Post a CommentI admit that lately I’ve been less enthusastic about blogging, posting once or twice a week rather than my usual output of twice that. I sometimes feel like it sucks up all my time to write, read, comment, reply to comments. Time I should really apply to any number of other things like cleaning, furthering my career, exercising, hanging out with real live people, etc.
But then something happened and I am so freaking thankful that I have all these crazy blogging friends out in the internet. Yes, cue The Cheese, I am feeling sappy about my virtual friends. Here’s why:
On Friday afternoon, husband got a job offer in San Francisco. Aside from feeling thrilled for him because it really is a cool job, I kinda panicked because HOLY COW San Francisco is about a million thousand miles away and I’ve never even been there before. California is basically a foreign country to me. And I’m nothing if not a panicker, people.
The sure sign that I am a blogger through and through is that I didn’t call my mother, my sister, my best friend to share the news, I emailed Stacy. I remembered that she just recently uprooted her own life in the Eastern Time Zone for a new life in San Fran. I believe my email was something like this:
omg I know you don’t really know me but I might be moving to SF and omg where do I start thinking about how to do that and omg I will need a job and holy crap can I afford to live out there and ahhh I have never even been there before omg please help
At least that’s what I felt like writing. Hopefully I used punctuation.
Within minutes, not only had she written me back with calming and encouraging words, she had advice on jobs and housing and everything. Then, she emailed several other local bloggers asking if they could help me find a job and to welcome me to the West Coast. I’m not kidding that within three hours of a job offer for my husband, I had a handful of friends acting as my personal West Coast Welcome Wagon. It was awesome. Thank you, Stacy.
(PS My husband is in love with your dog and if we move out there you might need to keep extra special tabs on him, okay?)
Now that I’ve got all you readers in a tizzy, let me just say I don’t know if Andrew will take this job, so moving to SF is far from a done deal. We have a lot of things to think about this week before we make any big decisions. It’s just nice to know that there are these people in the world who are so damn nice and without this silly little blog I wouldn’t know them at all.
Yay! That really is cool, and so refreshing to hear because there are all sorts of not-so-lovely stories that usually get broadcast about the internet.
I love hearing the good stories, the good friends, the good experiences. And I, too, dorkily love my internet friends. If I lived in San Fran, or had been there more than once, I’d send out the welcome wagon as well
(Maybe I’ll just visit? hee hee)
Can’t wait to hear what you guys decide - keep us posted!
written by elise
March 11th, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Hey! I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now. I actually live about 45 minutes north of San Francisco…
You’ll do just fine (that is, if your husband takes the job offer).
Congratulations on the excitement… even if you don’t end up moving, there’s something very fun and appealing about considering it.
written by Jodie
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:33 am
What’s crazy? Is that I was contemplating today’s post starting with the exact same header as yours. CUHRAZY.
written by alyndabear
March 12th, 2007 @ 4:14 am
SF is a wonderful city! Coming from someone who has moved extremely far twice, I can say with certainty that all will work out just fine. Go with it and enjoy the wonderful opportunities that new scenery can bring.
written by E :)
March 12th, 2007 @ 5:47 am
(delurking — Hello Janet!) I grew up in CA and moved from San Francisco to DC about 3 years ago, and I think I’d probably move back tomorrow if I could. Seeing as you’re from the West Coast already I think there’s a safe chance that you’d really like SF– it’s got the good parts of DC (like the small scale neighborhoods, beautiful victorian houses) but much more (lots of creative, artsy people, great non-starbucks coffee shops on every corner, best burritos anywhere). And it’s really not that much more expensive than DC. Good luck with the decision making process and congrats to Andrew on the job offer.
written by Lana
March 12th, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Oh, my goodness! I love your SOS email; that is exactly what I would have been thinking, other than the never having been there before part. Wow! Good luck with that decision, both of you!
P.S. If you do you trek over to SF, I have to get down to DC to hang out before I have to fly across the country to hang out! Gah.
written by RA
March 12th, 2007 @ 8:43 am
SF is great. Bring a sweatshirt.
written by bones
March 12th, 2007 @ 9:23 am
i loooove san fransisco. i’m jealous!
written by meegan
March 12th, 2007 @ 9:43 am
San Francisco is so cool. You will love it there except for the cost of living.
You could live in Pleasanton and hubby could commute on the train into town. Now I want to go back.
Jef
written by Edge
March 12th, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Wow!! What an exciting opportunity!! I am totally into the West Coast again after my Seattle trip. Can’t wait to hear what you guys decide!!!
written by Laurel
March 12th, 2007 @ 10:16 am
My dad lives in San Francisco, so if you need any additional advice, I can ask him. It sounds like you are covered though!
Congrats to your husband on the job offer, by the way. Even if he doesn’t take the job, it is good to know that people want him!
written by -R-
March 12th, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Hiya Janet (and Andrew!),
Congrats to Andrew on the job offer. I have been to S.F. a few times and I live about 4 hours south of S.F. It is a very nice city with tons to do, but a bit on the cool side for me. Aside from that, I think it’s a great place to live and in a beautiful area. Holly from Nothing But Bonfires just moved there a couple months ago, so she’d probably be another good resource for getting advice.
Let us know what you decide!
written by Chiada
March 12th, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Wow, that is very exciting news! If you do end up moving, I hope you’ll chronicle all the details for us because we are thinking about moving across the country in a little over a year (once Tim’s done with grad school). I can definitely understand your feelings of excitement and holy-shit-thats-huge-and-scary. Best of luck with whatever decision you two make!
written by Audrey
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
I have been dating someone in SF for almost a year now - so I’ve been making the Salt Lake to San Francisco trip at least once a month, usually twice. I have ALL SORTS of info, from both a tourist-trip opinion and a “I’m trying to be a local” opinion. I’m heading out there again in a few weeks and would love to do some recon if you are still looking for info.
Love your blog!
xoxo
written by heidikins
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Reading this made me feel the same way…omg, you’re moving and omg, how scary and brave and wonderful!!!
Wow! Congrats to Andrew for an awesome job offer. Even if he doesn’t take it. It’s great to even be offered something cool.
And while some people roll their eyes at California, all I can say is…
THE SUN!
I would kill for sunshine like that in my life.
Good luck deciding what to do. And make sure you keep us all posted!
written by Isabel
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
That is fantastic! I love the blogging network. I don’t know what I would have done in certain situations if it wasn’t for people I’d met through the internet (like when a Dutch couple offered to meet me at the airport in Amsterdam and take me to the university where I’d be spending a semester abroad). I couldn’t have done it without them. This is another great example, and Stacy seems like a really cool person. Whatever you decide, or wherever you go, at least you know you’ll always have your blog-friends!
written by Zandria
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Oooh! How exciting. San Francisco! What a fantastic adventure that would be!
Isn’t it so great to know that it just takes an email to a “friend” to get info about a new city, an encouraging word or a recipe!
written by Lauren
March 12th, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!
written by jessica
March 12th, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
While I love (and go as often as possible) the city, (no proper name, just The City. LA isn’t a city, it’s a series of areas) I’m a So Cal gal from tip to toe, married to a hard-core Nor Cal guy. You are going to LOVE it if you get to move there - seriously. Another great resource is actually craigslist - the SF board is pretty crazy. Plus…Trader Jooooes! Hope you make it!
written by Meepers
March 12th, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
That’s pretty exciting stuff. Congrats, whether you end up moving or not!
written by angela
March 12th, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Yay! That’s super exciting! Congratulations…whatever the decision may be!
written by Jenni
March 12th, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Exciting! I live about an hour and 20(ish) minutes from “the city”
Good luck with your decision. Isn’t it nice to have options? And yeah, you’re totally brave!
written by Aimee
March 13th, 2007 @ 9:30 am
If your husband has been offered a job in San Francisco, take it, take it, take it. Aside from the beauty that is Australia, Northern California is one of the best places to live. Great food, great art, fabulous recreation. I regret every single day having left San Francisco to take a job in Washington, DC. BIG mistake.
P.S. Found you via your friend over at Talking Budgie.
written by Janet
March 13th, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Hello fellow DC Blogger!
I surfed my way in via Crankmamma’s blog… just thought I would say hello.
Cheers,
GF
written by Gunfighter
March 13th, 2007 @ 11:24 am
I just started blogging a few weeks ago. It’s all very new, and a bit scary, for me. But exciting too. I just got married and moved to Calgary with my husband. Left my family, my friends, my job - everything. And now I’m in a new (very cold!) city with a new husband and new stepkids, all of whom I adore, but still pretty lonely at times. That’s why I started blogging, to make some sort of connections. At first I wasn’t so sure about it, but reading your post made me feel a lot better - to know I’m not alone.
You’re lucky you have so many online friends..maybe one day I will too.
I hope it all works out for you!
written by Eau'Flynn
March 14th, 2007 @ 12:11 am
What!? You definitely can’t move until I meet you, biatch!
written by Lindsey
March 14th, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
[...] 4) The blogging network stretches near and far. When she found out there was a possibility her husband might take a job in San Francisco, Janet reached out to a blogger who recently moved to that area herself, even though they’ve never met in person. On Friday afternoon, husband got a job offer in San Francisco . Aside from feeling thrilled for him because it really is a cool job, I kinda panicked because HOLY COW San Francisco is about a million thousand miles away and I’ve never even been there before. California is basically a foreign country to me. And I’m nothing if not a panicker, people. [...]
written by POSTS OF NOTE, VER. 3 » Keep Up With Me
March 15th, 2007 @ 8:28 am
[...] 4) The blogging network stretches near and far. When she found out there was a possibility her husband might take a job in San Francisco, Janet reached out to a blogger who recently moved to that area herself, even though they’ve never met in person. On Friday afternoon, husband got a job offer in San Francisco . Aside from feeling thrilled for him because it really is a cool job, I kinda panicked because HOLY COW San Francisco is about a million thousand miles away and I’ve never even been there before. California is basically a foreign country to me. And I’m nothing if not a panicker, people. [...]
written by POSTS OF NOTE, VER. 3 » Keep Up With Me
March 15th, 2007 @ 8:28 am
A native Cali, we are typically one flavour or the other with regard to LA/SF. An LA kinda guy, think twice about SF. It’s overrated IMHO.
Cheers man
written by Nocturnal
March 20th, 2007 @ 4:37 am
[...] It’s anticlimactic because the offer came in last week, but between trading voicemails and salary and start date negotiations, it wasn’t final until this morning. I am so happy that he held out and didn’t take the job that would have moved us to San Francisco, because this job is with the same great firm but here in DC. Some things are just meant to be, I think. [...]
written by love is blonde » demoted from my position as sugar momma
June 18th, 2007 @ 1:28 pm