Back in the fall we celebrated what I’ve dubbed our “San Francisco-aversary.” You know, like an anniversary, but for our move. Ha! It’s a little crazy, but at the same time I think it’s something worth at most an all out celebration and at least a mention every year.

I had dreamt of moving to San Francisco ever since I graduated from college and one of my best friend’s and I took a trip to California. We went because that winter I was going through a bit of a rough patch. I’d broken up with my boyfriend, the reality of the adult world was looming just beyond, and I was living in a mountain town that had seen its worst winter in five years – I couldn’t escape the gray, cold, and snow. It was about that time that I watched Valentine’s Day. You remember. That cheesy movie with tons of a-list celebrities that was more of a b-list movie. It was fine, don’t get me wrong, just not the sort of movie I usually resonate so deeply with. But, boy did I watch it at the right time. I remember being so enthralled by all the scenes with tons of sunshine, the beautiful Venice canals (I mean, imagining that as your backyard was beyond a dream) and so many happy, successful people that were in love. It was basically the antithesis of everything I was feeling that winter. After watching it I was bound and determined to visit California where the sun was shining and the people were happy. And when I finally did I absolutely loved San Francisco, which came as a surprise. I was expecting to love LA because of the movie, but San Francisco really stole my heart. And, after that trip I knew I wanted to live there someday.

That’s why I think it’s important to recognize our San Francisco-aversary. Moving there was the realization of dream. A big one. A kind of scary one. A dream that required some courage and a big leap of faith. A dream that meant saying goodbye to almost everything that was familiar. And, while at the time I didn’t think that would be hard at all experience has since taught me otherwise. I officially know what a big deal it is to move anywhere new, let alone when it’s 3,000 miles away. So, I celebrate because I believe special occasions should be marked and talked about and memorialized for all that you gave them and all that they gave you.

This year we decided to celebrate in the most San Francisco-y way possible. Eat a huge meal that you can’t get everywhere. Dim sum was just the perfect answer. We followed it up with a movie and ice cream at the Sundance Theater and a stop at our neighborhood brewery.