I had intended to have a calm day at home, with a short afternoon stop at a pool party of a friend of my friend, Jo. The host, Kendall, had been so generous to invite me that I felt I had to at least stop by.
The address he gave me was his parent's, in Angwin, a town I had not yet visited, let alone heard of. And now I know why. To get there, I had to take the narrowest, windy street up through the mountains - and back down again. Naturally, as soon as I arrived and told the first person I met that this was the way I had come, I was informed of a simpler, less steep way. Not so helpful after the fact.
In any case, the drive was worth it; the house was beautiful and secluded, with a gorgeous outdoor pool area. Kendall greeted me as if I was a life-long friend. "What are you doing tonight?" he asked as soon as I arrived. "Will you join me for dinner?"
After an afternoon at the pool, meeting new friends (and some crazy people; a very inebriated guest told me "I think you're the woman for me" as he drunkenly stepped on my toe and toppled over), we headed to the house of one of Kendall's friends, Lance, whom I had met my first week here at bocce. (The drunk man did not join us, thank goodness.)
Dinner was a spectacle. The table was set for twenty and there was wine and cheese on the patio. Kendall's very intoxicated roommate, Anya, a Culinary Institute student, managed to whip together two massive seafood paellas, which were plated for each of us. Lance made a toast to having us in his home. Harry (who also just happened to be there - this town is so small!) baked cookies. And we drank the wine made by my new winemaker friend, David Tate: Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.
At this point, this is where the less adventurous side of me would go home. Alas, my spontaneous side won out and so when Kendall said let's go "hot-tubbing," I willingly joined in (and convinced the less-inclined folks to join, as well - I am milking this "new girl" power I seem to have for as long as I can).
And that's how I found myself in the hot tub of the home of a wealthy vineyard owner, with six random new people (one of whom was "house-sitting" at the property) at midnight on a Sunday evening, looking out over the stars.
Yet, as crazy as it sounds, this bizarre, random night was the first night I felt at home here. Don't get me wrong, I've been having fun, but that's all it has been. Last night was the first time that I felt I actually genuinely connected with others. Despite the absolute absurdity of the night's events.
Tonight I attended a spin class taught by a new friend I met during yesterday's festivities, Christina, at a studio in St. Helena. After class, she and I went for dinner, and I felt as though I could have been with one of my good friends in New York. While the frivolity of life here can be fun, it's that comfort of friendship, of people who understand you, that I'm also craving. I'm excited that now the first stage is winding down - the novelty - and that I'm starting to find that real life quality to this place.
And, well, if that comes with hot tubbing and parties on boats (I see those in my future), then I'm okay with that, too.
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