We just got back from house sitting for friends in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood – my old haunt. Paige’s paternal grandmother refers to this place as “gay hill” because (a) there are a large number of gay people living there and (b) because she used to get pleasure from telling me how Paige is going to turn gay from being around gay people – “YOU ARE LIVING UP ON GAY HILL BECAUSE YOU ARE RAISING HER TO BE GAY!”

I mean, c’mon, everyone knows you turn gay from wearing pink (guys) or playing sports (girls). Where the hell has SHE been?

It’s been about 4 years since I bought my house in West Seattle and left Capitol Hill. My first apartment in the Emerald City (circa 1995) was located on the corner of Boylston & Roy, right down street from The Deluxe. I’ve lived in two other places on The Hill since then and (except for the bad relationships) I was happy as a pig in shit living up there. I now live in 1940′s tract housing – 800 sq ft house on 6000 sq. ft. lot (yes I know that my house could fit in your master bedroom suite). It’s a different kind of happiness.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I truly miss being in the hustle and bustle of apartment living. I never fully appreciated things like walking out your front door to coffee and movies and food. I moved away because (a) I really thought having a yard was kismet (b) I thought that was the “next step” and (c) there was no possible way that a single mother could afford to buy anything but a run down studio apartment in a 4 story walk up. If you don’t believe me, just look here. I am not sorry I bought a house, but every time I am up there, it’s like coming home.

So there we were, having a bit of a ‘staycation’ of sorts. In the four years since I’ve lived there, the neighborhood has changed dramatically. The Pike/Pine district is now replete with frock shops and chic restaurants. As of last Friday, there are not one, not two, but THREE gourmet ice cream shops within a 3 block radius. From my vantage point this weekend, I could walk one block and get ice cream. Then walk another block, get some more ice cream. And then if that wasn’t good enough, I could replenish the calories I just expended by getting more ice cream at the third ice cream parlor. That’s city living!

My favorite part of the whole weekend was getting to hang out with Paige at bit more than usual. I was pretty much offline all weekend because I was out exploring and eating. And eating and exploring. I decided to throw caution to the wind and went all out by eating the entire neighborhood up. I kinda regret it because I think I gained 5 lbs (I am afraid to look at the scale).

I was not sorry about eating this:

Poached eggs. Tomato. Cheddar cheese. BACON. Bread. Deliciousness.

Okay, maybe a little sorry.

But not much.