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Catherine Gacad

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I am Bridge and Tunnel

Oh shit, we are moving to the burbs. Can someone please throw me a handkerchief so I can go cry my fucking eyes out?

Catherine’s Residential Timeline

1975-1993 Alameda: my formative years

1993-1997 Berkeley: i-barely-left-the-library years

1997-1999 Emeryville: my first full-time job years

1999-2002 San Francisco: the dot.com boom and booze cruise years

2002-2004 Chicago: i-barely-went-to-class years

2004-2015 San Francisco: my single, engaged, married, had a baby years

2015-20XX Alameda: i-came-full–circle-and-moved-back-to-my-hometown years

From the above timeline, you can see that I spent the past 15 years in a metropolitan city. I am a city girl at heart, but it came down to doing what was best for our family, which is to be closer to my parents so that they can care for Franco. It is truly bittersweet as we love San Francisco. Maybe one day, hopefully soon, we will return to live in the city.

We have purchased this Victorian in my hometown of Alameda, an island in the San Francisco Bay.

victorian

I was surprised to find out there is a ferry that can shuttle me from the Alameda main terminal to the San Francisco ferry building in 20 minutes. I didn’t know this until after we bought the home. Yay for my commute!

We will be living on the top floor and will be working to add a kitchen to the bottom unit so that we can rent that out. We are opting to keep our property in San Francisco and rent both units. We are officially San Francisco Bay Area real estate developers and landlords. Ha!

Guess what just came to Alameda? My favorite fast-food joint.

innout

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05.27.15

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Comments

  1. Janine Huldie

    May 27, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    Aw, huge congrats and I live in the suburbs and as much as I love the NYC, still happy to be able to raise my girls here, but still yet be able to take them into NYC when we can, too. Best of both worlds!! 😉

    Reply
  2. Rea

    May 27, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    The house looks amazing! Apparently, you’ve moved quite a lot. I know for sure that I’d always choose to live a little away from the city. I still haven’t given up where we live now and it’s an hour away from where I work. Gahh!

    Reply
  3. Patrick Weeman

    May 27, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Congrats. You could be like me-Be educated from K-through teacher in the City of Hayward and I returned to the live in the city four years ago after living in other parts of the Bay.

    Reply
  4. Andrea

    May 28, 2015 at 6:54 am

    Finally left the City, huh? Your home is beautiful though! I need you and your hubby to give my hubs and I a real estate pep talk. Way to keep the residual income as the cherry on top. #winning

    Reply
  5. Dana

    May 28, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    How exciting! I’m sure In and Out will help ease your pain a little. My daughter is still bummed that we never made it to one when we were in CA a few years ago.

    May your new home be dry and structurally sound. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Tamara

    May 28, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    Well. At least there’s In-N-Out, right?
    I’m a country girl through and through, but I still miss SF a lot.

    Reply
  7. AwesomelyOZ

    May 29, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Congratulations!! It’s so gorgeous!! I wouldn’t mind living in the burbs in that at all.. Although I DO live in the burbs and I love it. 🙂 It’s so peaceful. Hope your move is smooth and seamless girl!! Take Care and have a great weekend Catherine! -Iva

    Reply

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Welcome to my site, derived from an advice column I wrote while getting my MBA. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I give helpful, opinionated advice based on my own experience and from the expertise of my extensive network. For more, click here.

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