Arriving in "The Other San Francisco"

Hi folks! Will here with tales from the West! (I know, another wacky title...but, there's a story behind this, of course!)

First off, my 2,000 mile trip across our vast, beautiful country was delightfully uneventful...just the way I like it when travelling solo. Truth be told, I did have several of my favorite house plants tucked in the back of the car. I have had some of these guys since my apartment in San Francisco and some of them are still adorning our home today. The trusty steed, my SAAB 9000, took very good care of me across the country, sipping ever so gently on the petrol and keeping me safe throughout the journey. (There will be a chapter devoted not only to this car but of all of my automotive favorites in the very near future!)

OK...the title. Upon arriving, I wanted to dig in and find out about the history of this country's oldest state capital. Not only is it the oldest capital city in the country, but it is the highest in elevation—7,199 feet! My breathing apparatus took a couple of weeks to fully adjust to the altitude change. Founded in 1610, it was originally called La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís. Translated, this means The Royal city of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi.

The basilica pictured is located in Santa Fe's historical downtown area near The Plaza, a very popular tourist attraction. Great food and local art is to be found everywhere in this district. It was fall when I arrived. So, I had picture perfect weather to enjoy the sights. Speaking of the weather...I had never seen skies as blue as those in Santa Fe (or the rest of New Mexico!). Cerulean blue, to quote the locals!

I gave myself a week or so to settle in from my trek to do some sightseeing before starting my job that was waiting for me at Home Depot. That was a good thing, as the fall quickly changes to winter at this elevation. And, with that comes snow...lots of it. Not being a skier, I wasn't aware that just north of town was the internationally renowned Santa Fe Ski Basin. Boy, was I surprised when the first foot or so of the white stuff fell in mid-October! It was a harbinger of the length and conditions of the New Mexican winters. In our new and cozy casita I hunkered down to learn about my new environs. 

At first, the houses we lived in were rentals. My Alan got the bug to move about every year or so. I don't know where all of this restlessness came from. He had lived in the same apartment in NYC for many years. But, in hindsight, it gave us the opportunity to see different sections of the city and its surrounding areas. We treated every house as if it were our own. The landlords loved us and always gave us great referrals as we moved from house to house.

Alan finally set down roots in Santa Fe about about three months after I got there. He had a lot of business ventures to tidy up before leaving New York. Almost immediately, he found a job at a local tobacco company. Not a smoker...this was only a stopgap position. Soon after, he put his styling talents to work for a very old and respected N.M. furniture company. He slowly climbed their corporate ladder over the years, resulting in a lot of our moves. But, it was worth it as he just celebrated his 25th year with them as their Visual Director!

My tenure at Home Depot was not a long one. Pictured at my desk in the Floor and Wall Department, I dipped into my experience in carpet sales from my past. I was frequently frustrated by being dragged away to do some cumbersome and non-related task elsewhere in the store. There were politics to deal with, as well. I guess that's the case with most larger companies. But, as I mentioned before, I do not do well with politics. I put my feelers out to find new employment.

Serendipity struck when I was on a simple trip to a local Hi-Fi store to get some blank tapes. Although it was a Sunday and the store was shut, there was a simple handwritten sign on the front gate, stating that a position for electronics sales and/or department manager was available. I did a double take. After I caught my breath, I jotted down the contact number. I was thrilled to have an opportunity of a redux in electronics sales! That following Monday morning, I called "The Candyman," the legendary electronics retailer in Northern New Mexico.

My appointment was at 2PM...and with the owner of the company. It was time to pull out my magical Midnight Blue Giorgio Armani good luck suit! The owner did a double take when I walked into his office. It was clear from his reaction that few interviewees arrived in such attire! He asked me to take my jacket off and be more comfortable. After giving him my resume and chatting for a half an hour or so, he asked me if I wouldn't mind working for "a couple a three" hours on the floor to see if I would be a good fit. It worked...I worked...and I got the job! He was originally from the New York metropolitan area and we hit it off.

So, it seemed that I might be retracing my steps from "The Other San Francisco" after all. From Castro and Market Streets to St. Michaels and St. Francis Drives, a redux was in the making. Stay tuned for details!