One Year Anniversary in California: My Favorite Things

I simply cannot believe we’ve been in San Ramon for a year. I have absolutely loved every second of it. I think one of the benefits of moving around so much is that when you get to a really wonderful place, you truly appreciate it. Some of my friends were born and raised in California and I really think they must have no clue just how lucky they are. 

Of course, all this wonderfulness comes at a price, and the cost of living in the Bay Area is just as high as prices in New York City. We are fortunate that Jonathan works for a company with great benefits so that helps us to afford to live here comfortably but without that we would be stretching for sure! 

But you get what you pay for, I guess. In our area we have some of the best schools in the state, some of the lowest crime levels around, parks on every corner, and abounding natural beauty. The weather doesn’t stink either. 

I can’t imagine a more idyllic place to have a baby. After spending Forest’s newborn days in wintery Scotland, I very much appreciate that the weather here is baby friendly year round. And being walking distance to two great parks is priceless with an energetic toddler. 

It’s not all roses and sunshine though. Being far from family stinks no matter where you live. In Aberdeen, most of us were in the same boat so we leaned on each other and invested in good babysitters. Here, we are some of the only ones without grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins nearby which can just feel hard. When Forest had the flu, Jonathan and I were terrified of catching it. 

If all 3 of us were super sick, what would we do without family nearby to help out? It’s scary to think about. Luckily, through the grace of God and Tamiflu, we stayed healthy through that time but it certainly had us doubting our life choices for a week or so. 

But day to day we feel very blessed to live here. Here is just a list of a few of my favorite things: 

1) Proximity and Location. 

One of the things we enjoy most is how many world class travel destinations are within 100 miles of us. Not only do we have the amenities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose at our fingertips, but also Napa/Sonoma, Tahoe, Monterey and Mendocino are all pretty accessible as well. 

We also hit up nearby Livermore when we just feel like heading to a local winery. Usually the drive takes 20-30 minutes and we are picnicking in a beautiful wine country. Not too shabby. 

Plus, loads of people want to visit SF and Napa so we get to see them during their stays. 

2) Hiking. 

Jonathan and I (and Forest) love to hike. We got bit hard by the hiking bug in Scotland and were thrilled that the East Bay area and California in general are full of beautiful trails. We invested in a high quality backpack carrier for Forest and he seems to really enjoy our excursions. 

3) Parks. 

You can’t throw a rock in San Ramon without hitting a park. Each of the Tri-Valley towns have major central-park type green spaces but individual neighborhoods are also chock full of playgrounds. We go at least once a day and it’s super easy since all I have to do is stroll ½ a mile (or less) to get there. Plus, I gotta walk the dog anyway so it kills two birds with one stone as I get to tire both baby boys out in one trip. 

4) Weather. 

The summer gets pretty dang hot and dry here but unlike in the South there is usually some relief. Because it’s essentially a desert climate here, the mornings and evenings are usually cool so we time our outdoor activities for those times. Plus, cool fronts still come through in July or August giving us a few days of respite. Also, it’s not too far to drive into the mountains or to the coast which is usually at least 15 degrees cooler than the valley. 

Hiking in Golden Gate Park in July. I'm wearing a fleece and a scarf.

5)Friends! I have such a great group of mom friends who keep Forest and I entertained during the week. I really lucked out in finding a play group right away for babies born in Fall/Winter of 2013 and it’s been so sweet to watch them growing up together. 

I’m also part of a fun book club and have Forest enrolled in a few extra-curriculars that keep us busy. He is at such a fun age and it’s just great fun to have plenty of friends around his age to share it with. 

Ok, that’s about it I guess, but when your location offers you easy-access travel, hiking, parks, good weather and great friends, what more could you possibly ask for?