Whirlwind

LEAVING

1832 San Felipe Circle, Santa Fe, New Mexico

The day after "our" POD was delivered and picking up our 12 foot Penske truck, we packed up. Of course, we had the stellar help of Affordable Movers who filled both the POD and truck to the brim! When the house was empty on Wednesday, March 03, we drove to Albuquerque. Dwight in the truck and Cathie with Shasta in the Prius. Whew! Were we ever glad to sleep! The next day on to Las Vegas, Nevada where the smog was worse than any time we have been in Los Angeles.

Over the mountains and into Bishop, California, for another night of sleep. The entire next day was leisurely: our favorite hike along the Western edge of Mono Lake

Our view East looking across Mono Lake

Off leash Shasta's having great fun leaping in the snow
after being cooped up in the car  for three days.

and a picnic in the Lee Vining city park overlooking Mono Lake. Then we drove North on Highway 395 to Minden, Nevada, for our last night of sleeping "on the road". Sunday we checked into our short term, very small rental on the Northern edge of Sebastopol, California.

While on the road our Stamm home in Santa Fe sold and our realtor/friend did a stellar job of "making this happen" sooner than later. As I write this post the new owners have moved in are getting settled. 

ARRIVING

  

35 Page Street, Cotati, California
picture taken by Michael Stoyka.

Our search for a Sonoma County home began in earnest the day after our arrival. We are ever so fortunate to have another outstanding realtor. We spent four days driving around Petaluma as this is where we imagined ourselves buying a house. In the area we desired to live no houses were for sale. And then this house pictured above appeared in Cotati. 

Our realtor, Dwight and I jumped on looking at it immediately. We have long time English friends who live in Cotati not far from this house so they are excited to have us nearby. Tanis came to see the house the day before offers were due. She said, "It is so you," and we discovered she had never been to Cotati before. We had a lovely lunch at the Redwood Cafe to celebrate finding our "perfect" house.

So now we are waiting to move in. As we orchestrate the move in we are enjoying a frequent