Sunday Scribblings ~ Why I live where I live

Boho at home, Canon Digital Rebel XT

If I tell you the story of why I live where I live, in reality, it is the story of my husband and me.

Carsten (who wasn't my husband at the time) lured me here with his good looks, charm, gorgeous home and the offer to have the upstairs loft as my very own bedroom/studio so that I wouldn't freak out moving across California for the love of a man. Because Boho doesn't do stuff like that. ;-)

I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a true blue, born and bred Northern Cali girl in every sense of the word. I was living in Berkeley when the techie company (did I tell you I was a nerd? gkgirl will like that) I was working for was bought out and the majority of us were laid off. I decided to take advantage of my sweet severance package and move to Santa Barbara. Throughout my twenties I had moved every few years from city to city...so, the few years were up and I was feeling quite antsy for a new experience.

I rented a garage turned studio room from a fabulous young married couple. We knew within the first few minutes of me interviewing for the room that a bond was solidified and I was a good fit (laughing over lemonade). The husband (Rob) was very involved in the Volleyball community and they had a plethora of friends my age. I could see his wheels turning once he discovered I was single and I immediately said to them..."please do not set me up!".

I explained that I was there to rediscover me again. I was there for a spiritual experience, for healing, to play, to create, to just "be"...not to find true love.

Little did I know that Rob would call his best friend in San Diego a few minutes after I left the interview and say on his answering machine..."Carsten, dude...you better get up here because I just rented our room to your future wife!"

I did not hear of this, of course, until a while after Carsten and I actually met. It was Rob's plan to keep it from me since I was so adamant about him not setting me up with his friends.

When Carsten heard the message, he just laughed and rolled his eyes and didn't take it seriously. I am thankful for that...I needed time.

During the next four months, I worked at a cafe, befriended a few Scottish gals that were there for the Summer and played on the beach, submerged myself into yoga and enjoyed my new life.

I had one absolutely crazy night out in good ol' Santa Barbaree. The Scottish gals took me out...and you KNOW how the Scottish love to drink. Well, needless to say, we were out until all hours of the evening, then morning. Bar after bar...dancing on stages, kissing a few boys and skipping down the cobblestone streets. I stumbled into my room at about 5am in the morning.

A few hours later, I dragged my sorry butt out of my bed to walk through the house for the bathroom and as soon as I opened my door, which leads into the kitchen, guess who was standing there??? You guessed it...Mr. Carsten Kroon.

Now ladies. Think about this. I am hung over, parched mouth, hair a ball of knots and sticking out all over the place, traces of mascara down my eyes. Boxers twisted around my waist, tank top strap falling off my shoulder. You know that look. The morning after a wild evening with the girls and all you want is a huge glass of water, advil and to lay in bed all day.

I blinked my eyes a few times to focus on what was in front of me and I see this tall, handsome man (delicious, actually) and out of his jolly mouth comes..."There she is!!!" with the cutest smile in the Universe.

He later told me, at that moment when I walked into the kitchen...he had a warm feeling wash over him and he knew I was the one.

He's crazy. But that is one of the many reasons why I love him.

So, the next few months we fell truly madly deeply in love. During that first conversation in the kitchen, I forgot about the bathroom and how dreadful I must have looked. I just remember how damn funny he was that early in the morning and he found me funny as well. I leaned up against the counter with the coffee in my hands that he handed me and we shared our stories while Ali (Rob's wife) beamed watching us.

I decided to move out here because as I had said in an earlier post, the few long term relationships I previously had were long distance. I wanted as much normalcy as possible this time. I applied for a design school out here, got accepted, packed my bags and moved further down the coast...much, much further.

He had built a loft upstairs in his condo a while back. He told me that he wasn't sure why he had built it when he did but when he met me, he understood the reason.

So here we are...four years later. Married. And the loft is no longer my bedroom but my art studio and his workspace for Fractal Tree.

Good ol' Rob actually did set us up despite my plea not to. This is a great joke that will be told for years on end.

Now you know our story. Now you know why I live where I live. Oh...and the glorious beaches and tres cool weather help too. ;)

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