This Is The Last…

Most of you guys know about my deep love for San Francisco and how ever since I was 18 I’ve wanted to live there (or maybe it goes back to Full House). Last year my little bohemian sister decided to make a go of it.

Today its been one year since she moved up there. She did something really scary and she succeeded in carving out a little spot for herself in that big city.

Here’s what she wrote…

…..I woke up in my dads living room while the moon was still out, kissed him and Belle goodbye and drove my stuffed, golden chariot up to San Francisco to live with my brother in the Sunset. I was terrified to move away from San Diego, terrified that I might not make friends, terrified I wouldn’t find a job…the list of fears goes on forever. In the beginning my mom and I set a ritual to talk every Tuesday, usually I would cry to her that I couldn’t find a job, that I was a failure and she would just be positive and tell me to give it three months- STAY for three months. And I stayed. Within the first month of me moving there I scored and found that 6 month-market-research-fake-jury gig, which gave me 6 months to figure out what my next step was. It also gave me the freedom to explore the city and go home if I needed to. The day after that gig ended I got a job dog washing. I figured it would be a dream come true since I cry at the sight of any fuzzy creature. The dogs were a plus, but they didn’t make up for how hard the work was, the minimum wage pay and the fact that I’d ride the bus home wet, covered in hair and smelling of doggies. Every fiber in my body didn’t want to do even a third day of work, but my sensible side lectured me about being practical and things of that nature. My dad said to follow my gut and my friend Cara urged me to quit, pick a neighborhood I liked and to walk around and follow the good vibes I felt. So, I quit and the following day I hopped on a bus and got off at Polk and Sacramento; I had always passed this strip on my way home from my previous job and loved looking at it for some reason. I saw a cute cafe hidden and decided to go in- I was hired on the spot and started the next day. I was buzzing on how unbelievable this moment was and saw a green awning down California Street, it said “Encore Karaoke Lounge” and i got that gut feeling to go in- and I didn’t even like karaoke at the time. I suddenly got nervous and passed the entrance, I immediately made myself turn around and forced myself to walk up the stairs. I walked in and asked the man behind the bar if they were hiring, he said no but he liked that I came him and to talk to one of his bartenders, Lawrence. Lawrence invited me to join him and the corner of regulars for a drink. One drink turned into many as we laughed and talked. All of my fears subsided after that day of following my good vibes to Polk Street. Two weeks later, a position opened up at the bar and not only Lawrence and Lindsay (the bartender I would be replacing) rallied for me to the owners, but also the corner of regulars that I had gotten to know so well. It’s always been a dream of mine to be a bartender and now I was doing it in one of the hardest cities to get a bartending job! I also recently got a waitressing job at a popular and old restaurant on the same block as the bar and cafe- I feel so grateful to have found jobs during this time of high unemployment. In one year I’ve met so many amazing people, through the bar, through my brother and through mutual friends, have had many amazing experiences and have grown in so many ways. I’m so grateful to my parents, siblings and dear friends who supported me and remained positive when I couldn’t be. I wanted to come to San Francisco to fall in love, I had no idea the person with would be me.

I’m so proud of my little hippy sister and how she’s grown up to be a beautiful woman. Robin, you’ve got moxie!