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Gandalara : She's within blocks of the beach, so there is quite a bit of real estate between her and any fire. Plus the breeze/wind always (well, 99%) blows from the ocean towards the land. She's safer in her new home, fire-wise, than where she was!
They evacuated Bonny Doon, which approximately 15 miles north from downtown Santa Cruz. Wonderful trees, wonderful winery.
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Yes, you are correct, Gandalara. I am MUCH safer from wildfires here. There isn't much in the way of dry brush here. Very residential, with lots to do. I suppose the university could be at risk at some point, but since they do have a maintenance crew, I would think that they clear the brush there.
And, yes, Bonny Doon (which was only 3 miles from my old house!) is on fire. I had two fire fighters on my old street, but where I was, it is just an inferno waiting to happen. I literally bought life preservers last year in case there was a fire and I had to go to the lake nearby -- there was only one road in and one road out to where I lived, and I knew if there was a fire below me, I would never get out -- so, the only hope would have been to go to Loch Lomond. I wonder if the new people in that house now have figured out why I left those life preservers! haha
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paintdog52: Horay Wisteria
I've enjoyed you sharing your thoughts on your journey to your new home and how you've dealt with challenges in the aging process. I hear them as my own thoughts as well and it gives me courage to face the prospect of downsizing and living "differently". I suppose the only reason I haven't moved a little sooner is that I have the most wonderful neighbors that you could hope for on either side of me. They have literally helped me stay in my home by doing the odd jobs and heavy yard work around here. They would never take a dime for their efforts and have now become like my family. I cherish them greatly and appreciate how they have allowed me to continue to enjoy the paradise of my own backyard. I suppose I will hang on to my situation here as long as I can but forsee a future such as yours complete with wonderfully clean salty air and tinkling wind chimes and hopefully new friends. I've been to Santa Cruz and it is absolutely wonderful. I'm so happy for you and look forward to hearing about your new life there.
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I had a similar situation where I lived, however, there was just no way that all of the neighbors could spend so much time helping me up there. I was fortunate to have these good neighbors and we all knew each other by name, and their kids, and were very respectful and helpful to each other. But my property was a bit more than what others could provide. It was older, things were falling apart, I had so many redwood needles and branches that fell on the roof and yard....it was never-ending. I am sure I was just very, very remote. I will stay in touch with my neighbors -- they are really good people. But for me, this was the best solution all-round -- besides, they couldn't prevent forest fires up there, they couldn't prevent mudslides or trees falling -- those things always worried me, too.
Maybe some day I'll see you here!
I will keep everyone posted as I discover new things here. It's just such a relief to not have that huge yard, and to know I can take my time unpacking and get settled in. I thought I would simply cry over leaving my "Enchanted Gardens," however, I'm quite surprised at how I don't feel that way. In fact, if anything, I feel like a weight was lifted. I did not realize how much the labor and worry there affected me until it was gone! You may find that, too.
It is now 10 a.m. here and the fog has lifted, and it is sunny with clear blue skies. Unfortunately, I must spend a large part of my day unpacking, but next weekend, I will get a chance to explore more. I
will, though, check out the Farmers' Market a few blocks away tomorrow! I need some fresh food in this house now!
I've been living on my daughter's Curry Ramen that she left here -- thank goodness, as I would have starved to death! haha (It's actually really good -- she had gotten it from the Indian section of San Jose and it's what is sold in India -- very spicy!! Yum!)
Hey, a VW bus just drove out of the park!! Yep, more aging hippies! Hahaha! Oh, my gosh, I can see our generation will transform retirement! Of course, it
is Santa Cruz, so you will find more here, but it's still weird seeing them come out of a Seniors' community!
Hey, even we people from the Sixties have to get old sometime! Looks like I might have more people my age than I expected! That would be fun!
Off to work. Just finished watching
Namaste America, an Indian music show (sort of like an Indian version of MTV) and got some good names of songs to look up on Youtube!
Bollywood in Santa Cruz! Somehow, they
do seem to go together!
Alrighty, I will keep you in the loop as I discover more. Who knows, maybe some of you will want to come here, too (I know of two other women who are seriously considering the move to this park, in particular -- making a ready-made community of women of like-mind)!
And thanks for the good thoughts about my safety from the fires. We are protected from those here -- besides, if worse came to worse, I could always run into the ocean! Haha. Seriously, the town is very protected and safe!
See you later!
Wisteria
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Horay Wisteria
