Free Range

1. The ability to walk everywhere.
   
2. The other benefits of population density: lots of great restaurants (that deliver), boutique shops, and world-class culture.
   
3. Four seasons, especially spring and fall (though summer and winter have their benefits, too). It’s pleasant to imagine wearing shorts outside at night during the middle of summer — something that just isn’t possible (without freezing) in the Bay Area.
   
4. Brownstones, and other amazing architecture.
   
5. Central and Prospect Parks.
   
6. Union Square Greenmarket.
   
7. Tulips and daffodils in the spring.
   
8. Being in the center of the media/advertising business.
   
9. The intensity of storms with thunder and lightning.
   
10. People-watching extraordinaire.
    

1. Hummingbirds flitting around our kitchen window.
   
2. Geese flying through in Spring and Fall.
   
3. Consistently warm (but not too warm) and sunny summer days. (A lack of need for air conditioning in our home can piggyback on this entry.)
   
4. Our little house, which is chock full of memories from our son’s first two years of life. (This one is really emotionally difficult, because we moved in with the hope of staying a long, long time.)
   
5. The proximity and ease-of-access to beautiful landscapes and landmarks — which aren’t crowded.
   
6. Being at company HQ (almost) daily.
   
7. Our amazing neighbors and the loving day care center where Callum feels so at home.
   
8. The relative ease of daily life with a car, especially where shopping is concerned.
   
9. Californians’ warm friendliness.
   
10. The agriculture, and the ability to “eat local” and have an abundance of organic choices.
    

P.S. Things I won’t miss include traffic jams (really, car commuting in general) and earthquakes.

Interesting facts about cheese, from fortes.com.

One big plus about moving back to NYC… proximity to Murray’s and the classes they offer.