The last quarter of 2025 was a lot of fun, and a lot of work. Conferences! Holidays! Birthdays! It occurs to me that I with the life I’ve built, I don’t know how to do things any other way. I don’t like sitting still. I need to nurture an ability to relax though, as I realize all of this takes a toll that I don’t expect and don’t realize I need to recharge from until it’s too late. Too late was this January, when I found my mood and energy levels much lower than I would have liked. I’m OK, just needing a bit more rest and time to myself than I usually do, and a dose of kindness aimed at myself when I realize I need these things.
So we did the really logical thing this month: We rented a temporary storage unit nearby and started cleaning out the garage so we could begin using the space more effectively.
WHAT?!
But actually, it’s not the worst idea we’ve ever had. And it’s all part of a master plan. We’re going slowly, and it’s finally moving the needle on several projects inside the house that we need space in the garage for. It’s also requiring us to slow down a bit on weekends and not pack in so many adventures and outings that need to be planned. We build Lego, we do a storage run, the boys ride their bikes, I read for a bit, we start a 3d print, and get some satisfaction from actually making progress.
At least, that’s the idea. It doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten much done, and I really don’t enjoy spending so much time on our stuff, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.
But you know us, we haven’t actually stayed home all month.
We went up to San Francisco early in the month for a couple of quests. First, was to get Aaron a Clipper Card. Now that he’s five, he has to pay for his bus rides on AC Transit and for BART, though at reduced rates. A Clipper Card allows for this to be done easily, and since the boys love public transit, the ritual of getting their first Clipper Card is a whole adventure. For Adam we got it at Embarcadero Station, but this time we went up on a Saturday and the hours at Ferry Building were much better for our visit, and that’s where we got Aaron’s card!
From there we took a vintage streetcar and a bus over to North Beach where we had lunch at Original Joe’s, which struck me as a bit fancy for a lunch with kids, but surprised me with the family friendly feel and good Italian American food, which I’ve struggled to find in California. I suspect we’ll be back. But why were we in North Beach? The second quest! I happened upon a Smith Corona Skyriter on Facebook Marketplace, and made arrangements to buy it from the fellow selling it in North Beach. I don’t need another typewriter. It’s a model I already have! But I love the Skyriter, this is a different year and case than I have, and it came with the original manual! It needs some cleaning and a new ribbon, but otherwise seems in find condition. I’ll write about it once I get it going.
Then one evening when MJ was working from home (no evening commute!) I fed the boys dinner early and we went over to the Oakland Zoo for the Glowfari. The boys and I went with a couple of our au pairs, past and present, back in November, but MJ hadn’t seen it yet. We forewent tickets to the actual zoo grounds, and instead did the zoo train, which didn’t require zoo admission, just ride tickets and with our membership parking was free. Plus, the boys and I didn’t see the ride area or take the zoo train on our last visit! We kept the boys up a little late that night, but it was a lot of fun, and I’m glad we got to loop MJ in on the lantern fun too, even if it was just a taste.
And did you notice that passing mention of a 3D printer? MJ and I have talked about getting a 3D printer for years. Of course we have, we’re totally the kind of people who would have one. But we also knew the burden it would bring. We didn’t want a cheap one, so we’d invest in a nice one. We needed to have space for it, and all the stuff that comes with it. So MJ dove into research mode for a few months and we ended up ordering a Bambu Lab H2D and a bunch of filament over the holidays. I’ll write about this more too, including some of our first prints, but it’s been a nice diversion from storage and some of the more stressful life stuff lately. I’ve started playing around with FreeCAD to for when I’m ready to transition from silly toys and things to some things I want to create myself.