WE LIVED IN the city of San Francisco from 1998 to 2000. After 1-1/2 months in a Victorian rental house in the Castro District, we bought a brand new house on Burnside Avenue in another neighborhood in the city, Glen Park. The city did not disappoint, but I couldn't adjust to the weather after 5-1/2 years of sunshine in San Diego. As Mark Twain said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
We enjoyed that house. We found it boxy and uninteresting outside but the interior was a big surprise.
If our jobs at UC Berkeley, mine especially, had been less disappointing (crushingly so), we might have stayed longer. Instead, we quit our jobs, sold the house on Burnside and bought a 1950s apartment complex in Palm Springs, California, which we renovated before opening the first and only hotel for gays and lesbians, their families, and their friends. And that, my friends, is another story. But, as Miss Gooch, the singer of the song referenced in the blog title says, "I lived. I lived. I LIVED!!!"
VIVIMOS EN LA ciudad de San Francisco desde 1998 a 2000. Después de 1-1/2 meses en una casa de alquiler Victoriana en el Distrito de Castro, compramos una nueva casa en la Avenida Burnside en otro barrio de la ciudad, Glen Park. La ciudad no decepcionó, pero no pude adaptarme al clima después de 5-1/2 años del sol en San Diego. Como dijo Mark Twain, "El invierno más frío que he pasado fue un verano en San Francisco".
Disfrutamos de esa casa. Nos pareció cuadrado y poco interesante por fuera, pero el interior fue una gran sorpresa.
Si nuestros trabajos en UC Berkeley, especialmente el mío, hubieran sido menos decepcionantes (aplastantemente), podríamos habernos quedado más tiempo. En cambio, renunciamos a nuestros trabajos, vendimos la casa en Burnside, y compramos un complejo de apartamentos de 1950 en Palm Springs, California, que renovamos antes de abrir el primer y único hotel para gays y lesbianas, sus familias y sus amigos. Y eso, amigos míos, es otra historia. Pero, como dice la señorita Gooch, la cantante de la canción mencionada en el título del blog, "Viví. Viví. ¡VIVÍ!"
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| NOVEMBER 1998, ABOUT TO LEAVE SAN DIEGO BEHIND. NOVIEMBRE DE 1998, A PUNTO DE DEJAR SAN DIEGO ATRÁS. |
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| BEFORE MOVE-IN. ARRIVING AT THE TOP FLOOR OF THE BOX, THE DINING ROOM WITH A VIEW. ANTES DE MUDARSE. LLEGANDO AL ÚLTIMO PISO DE LA CAJA, EL COMEDOR CON UNA VISTA. |
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| JUDYSHANNON, DOWAGER DUCHESS, AND MY AUNT SYLVIE AT SG'S 50TH BIRTHDAY. LA FIESTA DE CUMPLEAÑOS NÚMERO 50 DE SG. AMIGA JUDY, DUQUESA VIUDA, Y TIA SYLVIE. |
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| 1999. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND THE USUAL FOG. 1999. PUENTE GOLDEN GATE Y LA NIEBLA HABITUAL. |
• La canción del musical "Mame" comenza con la frase: "Con mis alas resueltamente extendidas, Sra. Burnside". Así que, por supuesto, la reproducía constantemente en mi cabeza cuando vivíamos en la Avenida Burnside.
• The song from "Mame" begins with the line: "With my wings resolutely spread, Mrs. Burnside." So, of course it constantly played in my head when we lived on Burnside Ave.
The 'box' looks lovely! ....very roomy.
ReplyDeleteOh the energy we all had back then!
SF was foggy when we spent a week there back in 1986 in the summer time. Saw are first 'Birds of Paradise' and went to an incredible dance party in some huge warehouse complex with all the music synced with 30' & 40's movie musicals. Will never forget it.
But I totally understand about the fog......gets somewhat/very claustrophobic.
Saw 'our' first....
DeleteJim:
DeleteThe house was very comfortable with lots of large rooms and a deck off the kitchen. The view from a wall of windows in the kitchen was of the East Bay and it was about a 5-block walk to BART. We lucked out. That damp chill really got to us!
Lovely photos of the 1990's. I know what you mean about the cold weather, despite being in PEI for 3 yrs I am still not use to the strong wind and cooler days in Summer and cold in Winter. We are planning a trip in Mid- November and we are thinking where could we go, do you have any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteI couldn't begin to offer you suggestions given how well-traveled you are. But I know you'll enjoy someplace warm... like the Mediterranean!
I love SF. I was there in the city's worst storm in 50 years when the storm brought traffic to a halt i.e. trains, planes, & automobiles. After the storm, twisted black umbrellas laid on sidewalks like deranged bats. Trees were down too. I had to buy a heavy duty rain slicker but after that I was nice and dry and toasty.
ReplyDeleteRita:
DeleteWas that the storm in 1997, the year before we arrived? I remember cliffside houses collapsing that year.
look at those cute boyz...where does the time go? visited SFO only once, back in the late 80s.
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteI look at the pictures and think. Wow, that's already 20 years ago. I also think, wow that's ONLY 20 years ago. I sure have aged!
Oooh, what handsome menz! From the looks of things, a dust bunny wouldn't be caught dead in any of your homes. Love that kitchen! The other room is so nice and airy, and warm. I loathe San Francisco, but we do enjoy going over the Golden Gate to visit Muir Woods.
ReplyDeleteDeedles:
DeleteOh, I can assure you, dust bunnies are prolific in our homes! I just don't take pictures of them. The house was all very light and airy, lots of big rooms, a very private deck and large spa out back (that we put in). And we spent less than 2 years there!
Wow, that looks like so much room for San Francisco -- your place looked so inviting! That kitchen--oh! And, hey! There's the other Judy! Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Judy:
DeleteWe had a lot of overnight guests, including Judy, for that birthday party. Four bedrooms and a very large den. A great space for entertaining. We really enjoyed that house -- although my mother and aunt kept reminding us that they liked the San Diego house better (one reason: they had their own guest cottage).
You were groundbreakers! I was a travel agent in the late 1990s/early 2000s and there were almost no hotels/places for gay and lesbians specifically. I think BNBs are a lot of work though. I am not sure I would want to own one :)
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteWe were so proud of ourselves with the hotel. But the market was smaller than we expected and we opened just before 9/11. And, you're right, it was a huge amount of work and a loss of a private life; we wouldn't do it again even if success was guaranteed.
Where the hell did you guys get that stuffed Canada goose over the fireplace?
ReplyDeleteDebra:
DeleteWe had a collection of dead birds at the time before our enlightenment. Our brother-in-law shot a ring-necked pheasant in 1981 and had it stuffed and mounted as a Christmas gift for Jerry. When asked what I thought I said, "Well, it's dead." But we then bought a stuffed bantum rooster, and a wood duck (atop the legal cabinet in the living room photo). And I then said, "Enough dead animals." The goose? Jerry wanted one. When we lived in Washington DC, we had a friend who was an antique dealer, she phoned me one day at work and said, "I have a picker down south who has found a stuffed Canada goose in flight. Do you want it?" You should have seen me walking through the streets of Georgetown with that thing. Our parrot (yeah, we had live birds, too) fell off his perch when that goose flew in. I would never have things like that now. Can't believe we ever did.
I love to visit SF and surrounding area. Haven't been there for a few years, though. I spent some foggy summer days in San Diego a couple of decades ago.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteSan Diego (and much fo the Southern California coast) experiences what's known as May Gray and June Gloom. In May, it would usually be clear after the morning passed. In June, it could be gloomy all day.
In my Aussie ignorance, I had assumed San Francisco to be warm. After all you are wearing shorts there, Mitch!
ReplyDeleteBut what a gorgeous view!
Rozzie:
DeleteSan Francisco could be warm (anyway, it was much warmer than NYC or Boston) and snow was almost unheard of. But it could also be cold and damp. Still, a spectacular city and surrounding area. That photo with the bridge in the background was taken from the Marin headlands across the water from San Francisco (you can see the skyline sticking up through the fog).
We must have seen each other on the subway at least once!
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry... BART.
DeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteIt's wild to imagine. Did you go to Tyger's? We were there every weekend for breakfast and Jerry was there a lot during the week towards the end when he didn't feel like going to work. At one point, the cook (I can't remember his name) came out of the kitchen and said to Jerry, "What is it exactly you DO for a living?"
No, I don't think I ever went there, at least not on a regular basis. But I got my hair cut nearby, and I often went to the pet store and to the wine shop called "Tiffany's." And the burrito place was a favorite, for take-out.
DeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteThe hairdresser with the handlebar mustache! We went to him once but he bitched the entire time about his carpal tunnel and we were just two too many customers that day! And, yes to the wine shop. Our 17-year-old English nephew stayed with us for several weeks and loved the burrito place. He was very proud of himself when he discovered that all it took to have a successful business in San Francisco was to put "queer" in the name. "Even the Mexican restaurant did it. TaQUEERia!" Also, he would order a burrito and a milkshake and could never figure out what his drink was.
The best adventures are found when we boldly plunge ahead! Great kitchen,
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteThat kitchen was wonderful. There was another third not pictured with a wall of windows and also a deck --- and a view of the East Bay. It really was a fun and well-laid-out space. We had lots of dinner parties in the short time we lived there.
I still have a hard time understanding that 1998 was 20 years ago
ReplyDelete