Farewell, U.S.A...

Amilia, Roland, and Jason chilling on the second story of our treehouse.

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"Bittersweet."

This is how I'd respond during the last few days I was stateside when someone would ask how I was feeling about my trip.  I will have so many adventures to live and so many stories to tell, however, I will miss the adventure California has presented me for the past decade.  Ten years has the funny capability of growing such deep, thick roots in a place that is as easy to enjoy as the bay area.

Despite its bitterness, I could not have been more pleased with the manner of my farewell.  It involved a large majority of the people who are important to me, and that is what I wanted most before I left.

On Saturday 20 October, I hosted a farewell party at the Chicken Coop in which at least 50 people showed up throughout the evening.  I hadn't ever thrown a party in my honor, and I realized this when I would walk through a crowd of people and not be able to move but a few paces without getting wrapped up in some conversation.  I consider myself lucky to live the way I do, but I felt truly blessed to have so many people I care about in various walks of life all gathered together to say goodbye.

Birds-eye view of some partygoers.

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If only a few more of those people would have used the ice luge....

The Coop proved yet again to be the ideal venue for a house party, aside from the fact that it is near impossible to find in the dark for a first-timer.  We had plenty of room for everyone and all the toys one could possibly want: a trampoline, a fire pit, an outdoor bar, a treehouse, and a climbable Redwood complete with a cargo net hammock at the top.

The Wednesday following the party I was treated to a farewell dinner by the R&D group at my (now former) company Cardica.  I can't bring myself to completely say farewell professionally to this group, because it has been such a fine home to me.  If people are the heart of a company, then Cardica's beats more strongly than most, and the R&D group is a large reason for that for me.

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Finally, on the Sunday before I departed, my father and stepmother came to town to see me off.  They were also kind enough to drive what is now my father's car with my stuff back to New Mexico for storage.  What was originally an exercise is minimalism soon became one in pack-rat-ism as the smallest load we could manage was still going to be too large for just the Subaru.  Throw a trailer into the equation and there was little reason to toss anything.  And with two Sanfords at the helm, we saved anything with even an iota of usability.

I was extremely glad to have family around as my time in California ticked down.  Saying goodbye to my mother and sister in New Mexico was difficult, but it was made easier knowing that I didn't yet have to do it with my father and stepmother.

Stacy, one of the few luge runners, helping me get the party going.

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When the time came they took me to the airport for a flight to LAX, on which I almost was not able to check luggage because I was trying to maximize my time at home, and the sadness was inevitable but necessary.  My paternal grandparents have always believed in saying goodbye with sincerity in case that goodbye becomes the last.  With the grim nature that tends to accompany that fear, I believe the same.  And I said goodbye to Cali with maximum sincerity.