Hitting Send

It has been a year since I packed up and left my home of almost eleven years, sunny Los Angeles, and made my way back to my BeLoved Northern California. Perhaps it was my own naivety, as I didn’t realize that living in wine country was still ‘the country”, which allows for fresh air, very little traffic, and many mountains to climb, but is also an adjustment in many cold, cloudy days, rain aplenty, and a whole lot of mud. There’s also an element of isolation from certain social activities and limitations in ones buying potentials. It has brought with it many adventures, joys, challenges, lessons, Beautiful new friends and Blessings. There are days when I miss LaLaLand, and my dear friends there, but then my best friend calls and says something to snap me out of it, like, “I’m on the 405 and LA is just one big parking lot! Do you have a couple of hours to talk?” haha She’s not kidding, and I’m reminded that driving twenty traffic-free minutes through the vineyards to get groceries may not be so bad after all.

When I look up at the Northern California night sky, I am awestruck by the innumerable twinkling stars brightly blanketing the immense, dark vastness above me. Sadly, the sky in LA has but a sparse smattering of what the eye can behold in the North. I was able to experience the night sky at its finest this fall when, after some trepidation, I accepted an invite to a birthday party “up on the mountain”. This would allow me to experience what I’d been hearing about, people living off the grid. I nervously traveled past the vineyards and up a country mountainside to join my friends, promises of amazing live music, dancing, food, and delicious home-brewed ales on my mind. I could have sworn my iPhone laughed at me when I checked it for guidance part way up the mountainside only to find the dreaded ‘no service’ flash at me. “You wanted to experience this,” I reminded myself as I continued my climb through the maze of signless dirt roads. The nearly moonless night allowed me the luxury of not having to witness the steepness of the cliffs on the right of me as I slowly crept along mile after mile, pushing through my city girl fears. I reminded myself of the many dangerous city streets I’d braved, and how traversing a mountain in the dark shouldn’t be so tough. Relief warmed me as I gazed upon the community building and parking lot full of trucks. Yes! People! Wise ones, who know of the necessity for 4-wheel drive vehicles! I took a deep breath, congratulated myself for making it, and gazed up at the sky above me. My jaw dropped. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before in my life, and I marveled to myself, “Are there really this many stars in the sky?” A friend spotted me and made her way over to welcome me, stopping to point out certain constellations and the milky way. I was overwhelmed by its magnificent Beauty and the knowledge that I was right where I belonged.

I would not wish to choose one side of Beautiful California over the other. While the energy is quite different, there are Wonderful gifts in both locations, and I enjoy being able to share in both. For now, I feel that living in the Northern end is in my best interest. It has already provided such an overwhelming education allowing for my personal growth and expansion, for which I am so Grateful.

Love and Blessings,
Antonia