When we packed up our Scituate house and headed to Hong Kong 3 years ago, we stopped in Truckee, CA on our way over.  Unexpectedly, we found a little house on a big stretch of land.  With our Scituate house on the market, it felt like a touchstone that would keep us connected to the US. I did think Tommy was completely crazy to try and buy a house literally on our way out of the country; I’m usually the impulsive one. But it worked out, and I am so glad it did.

Our house in Truckee is what makes Hong Kong survivable. For all the benefits of our adopted city, it can be exhausting. The pollution here gets worse every year (that’s another blog post), and the thrum of the city is palpable. In Hong Kong, the lights are bright, the crowds are close, and there’s always noise.  In Truckee we have the stars. It’s dark and stunningly quiet. We might see someone walking their dog once in awhile, but for the most part our little slice of nature feels deserted. The internet is dial-up, and you really do need 4-wheel drive in the winter.  We all love it.