Hands down, the thing I miss most about living in San Francisco is the ease of connecting with friends. We still connect, through postcards, and texts, and emails, but the in person visits require a bit more coordination now that I’m on the east coast.

What surprised me about my most recent visit is that I discovered I also *really* miss the Pacific Ocean. I had two very different, yet equally perfect, days with her this trip.

On Saturday, we were at Ocean Beach. It was a quintessential San Francisco summer day. Cold, drizzly, and ridiculously strong winds. My legs were bare and the coarse sand pounded against my exposed skin. My loose hair whipped around my head, preventing me from always seeing. The water was rough, no surfers daring to tackle it. I love the raw power of the Pacific Ocean on days like this.

On Wednesday, I walked along Crissy Field. A gentle breeze blew, the sun warmed my bare arms. This was San Francisco October at its best. Blue skies, gentle breeze, warm sun. The most perfect month to visit. I stopped at one of the many wooden benches overlooking the Bay. The water isn’t as rough here. I can see to Marin. Sailboats glide by. Tankers slowly make their way across. The Golden Gate Bridge stands majestically in the distance, its International Orange contrasting with the blues of the Bay and the sky. The roar of Highway One traffic is in the near background, yet feels far away. A young couple sits cross legged on a blanket in the sand not far away, facing each other with little space in between. Talking, laughing, ignoring their Husky. The Bay is the epitome of opportunities – anyone’s dream can become reality here.