City Girls

Officially four years in the city! Couldn't have planned a better celebration if I tried: Actually I didn't, just living my charmed life.

Headed down highway one for the weekend at the Costanoa eco resort. We set up our tents and I was proud to say it was my third time 'roughing it,' this summer. The tents in order, fortunately our neighbor lent us a hammer because the ocean wind against the Santa Cruz Mountains had us scrambling to get the stakes in the ground.

Then the feast of wine, cheese, fruit, olives and chocolate followed. We invited the nice couple over that had lent us their hammer and between the seven of us polished off bottle, after bottle, of very good and local wine.

The scientist and the PR woman gave the couple our cards so we could meet up at an Irish Pub when they come to the city. They reminded me of my parents, so happy and full of love, they were so fun to spend the evening with.

We missed our reservations but still made the last seating, for more wine and dessert. We toasted to the engagements we knew one of the girls had on the way, the end of another's festival season, the start of another's MBA, the second year of doctoral studies for another, and I was elated by a postcard I had received in the mail the day before- oh and the start of a new year in the city!

We made our way back through the star filled night and even saw a couple shooting stars...in the middle of the night I couldn't tell if I had seen a monster outside the tent or if I was dreaming.

In the morning the tear in one of the tents and the hollowed out baguette confirmed the monster: A Raccoon. Umm rule number one, no food in your tent! Laughed about the night before over fruit and vitamin water then planned the day: Opted out of the hike for a nearby winery. One flight of tasting later we walked out admiring the case of wine our purchases filled. We thought we should do our part for the biodynamic winery :)

Back at Costanoa we lounged on the lawn and had a picnic. Some hit the hot tub, others had spa treatments, or very good lattes. It was a perfect getaway with the best of city friends.