The Other Half Of California

Sooo if you haven't received a comment from me in a while, don't feel special. You're not unique. I feel like I am about a week behind in commenting and I really have no excuse. But, please know, I'm still reading! I just get too lazy to comment on my iPhone. I will try to catch up soon!

Part of the reason I am behind is because we took our first trip this weekend. We had planned this trip weeks in advance. I have a lot of good friends who have (sadly) relocated to Sacramento. So we have been planning to go visit now for awhile and I finally set a date. As the day drew near, both B and I contemplated cancelling. B had had a stressful week of work with lots of traveling and deadlines. And I...well, I'm just pregnant. But we stuck to it and made the 5 hour trek North.

I am so glad we did. First, seeing our friends was great. One couple has two little girls (one is 2 years and one is 4 months) and the other couple is still transitioning into the soon-to-be-engaged phase. All four of these people are people who I feel really close with and feel so comfortable with. I'm so sad they all moved away. And, being notoriously bad at long-distance friendships, I decided to commit to the trip up. It was so worth it and something I hope we all continue doing.

Also, it was nice to see their lifestyle up north. So much more settled, relaxed, and less-stressed. All four (yes ALL FOUR) are psychologists (seriously two couples of two psychologists - what a disaster) and all four report being seriously less stressed than they did while working in Los Angeles. That is something to be taken seriously. Also, the couple with the two girls have a sweet little house with a yard and a nice cadence to their lives that I envy. It felt like I wanted to slip into that slower rhythm.

The second reason is was great is that we took an impromptu trip to Napa with the child-less couple. Yes, Napa is not quite the same when you are a wine-lover who can't drink, but it was still magical and wonderful. The trees, the flowers, the smells, the WINE, the views... I love it there. It was special for B and I because we were envisioning moving up there someday. And, there is something about wine tasting that makes time slow and worries disappear. And, I discovered on this trip, it's not just the alcohol! The magic pervades even sober pregnant people.

If you're curious, I did taste a few of the really awesome wines (i.e., the $180 a bottle wines), but really, they all taste like rubbing alcohol to me right now. Not sure if that has to do with a screwed up palate or some evolutionary thing telling me not to drink. Oh well. They smelled great.

Finally, the last reason it was wonderful was unexpected. B and I have been doing really well recently in our relationship (minor moments aside!) and things have been complacent and calm. But, after this trip, we both realized that we have been missing getting out and "having fun." We used to do so much stuff in our life. Hiking, backpacking, camping, expensive meals out, evenings with friends, day trips, road trips.... Now? We watch movies on the couch. It's been a bit mundane. Not that I had it in me to do much more. And we've both been working so hard that we've been happy with the downtime. But this trip was needed. Needed and appreciated. We made an effort to not talk about work or babies. That was hard for awhile. Seriously. But we ended up talking about life plans, school district budgets and the ethics of population reform. Among other things.

The trip was a bit hard on me being 28 weeks pregnant. Mostly because of the long hours in the car, the ultra-firm hotel room bed (I missed my vagina pillow), and the go-go-go schedule. I crashed when we got home last night and am feeling like crap today. In fact, I feel a bit like the first trimester. Yuck. Today and tomorrow are both 12 hour days. Just trying to make it through them. But, oh well. It was totally worth it.