Arontius of Bygelswade

.....Someone yesterday sent to me an article on housing in San Diego. For the first time in a very long time, the median price for a home in San Diego dropped to a level lower than that of a similar house in Seattle. Which is a huge deal when you consider that just a few short years ago the house that would normally sell in Seattle for over $400K would easily be over $1M in San Diego.

.....I was born in California, in Burbank as a matter of fact. I spent the first thirteen years of my life there. There are times when I miss it quite a bit. Which surprises me as I would not want to move back down there. Washington is my home now, but the silly thing is that I don't feel as it is the home of my heart.

.....It's rather hard to explain. When I was younger I spent a lot of time hiking the area, especially along the coast and in the Olympic Mountains. There are a lot of absolutely beautiful areas there. I remember sitting on top of Mount Bogachiel and looking across the Hoh River Valley to Mount Olympus and reveling in the site. But even so I felt like I was a guest, rather than being a part of the land and the experience.

.....But put me in the Mojave desert and the feel is completely different. I can think of a few occasions when I was in the Panamint Range or the Owlshead Mountains, looking across Death Valley. Or sitting amongst the Bristlecone Pines and looking across the Owens Valley to Mount Whitney, and feeling like I was home and I was looking across the front yard at the neighbors. A different feel all together.

.....I've got about twenty-one more years before I can retire. I'm wondering if TBT will want to stay put in Kitsap County, or decide to try something different. TBT loves Washington, but I wonder if she ever has any inclination to spend time in Montanna? California will have to be at the very least visited. Twenty-one years may seem like a lot of time now, but time has a funny way of speeding up on you when least expected. I'm sure that when they've flown by I'll be sitting there like some owl in the sunlight wondering where they went. :-)

.....Haven't had my morning caffeine yet, my mind is wandering. Or maybe it's June Faire that is warping my brain. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.