Reflections — Ten Years Later
Ten years. It’s hard to believe. Time doesn’t just pass — it folds, stretches, rewrites itself in ways we barely notice until we stop and look back. And now, in 2025, I find myself doing just that. Sitting with old words, old photos, and the kind of memories that don’t fade — they deepen.
This journal was never meant to be just a record. It was a promise to ourselves: that we’d return, that we’d remember, that we’d keep building something lasting. Back then, I didn’t have the tools — or the confidence — to shape it the way I wanted. Most of it was scribbled on buses, tapped out in quiet hotel rooms, or lifted from my old Blogger blog. It was raw, imperfect, but honest.
Now, with the help of technology — and a little more life lived — I can finally give it the care it deserves. AI has made the grammar and structure easier, yes, but it’s the emotional clarity that matters most. The ability to revisit, reframe, and rediscover what these moments meant. What they still mean.
🧭 Travel & Accessibility — What We Learned
Public transport has always been our lifeline. We’ve never hired a car, never relied on taxis unless absolutely necessary. And if there’s one area where the past decade has truly transformed the experience, it’s accessibility.
Back in 2015, San Francisco’s buses were a mixed bag — some with steps, some with lifts that felt more like a gamble than a guarantee. Electric wheelchairs weren’t always compatible, and boarding could be a minor ordeal. But we made it work. We always did.
Now, the city’s fleet has evolved. Low-floor buses with ramps are standard. The historic streetcars have been adapted. The trams were always ahead of the curve. San Francisco doesn’t rush change, but when it commits, it does so with quiet determination. That’s something we’ve come to admire — and rely on.
🏙️ The Changing Skyline & City Evolution
San Francisco’s skyline doesn’t shout. It shifts gently, like the fog that rolls in from the Bay. The Salesforce Tower is the most obvious newcomer — a gleaming sentinel that reshaped the horizon. Its companion, the Transit Center, is more subtle, its presence felt more in movement than in silhouette.
But it’s Treasure Island that tells the real story. Once earmarked for luxury homes, then stalled by contamination and hesitation. Promises of affordable housing came and went. And then, quietly, the narrative changed. The land was declared clean. The old blocks were razed. And the new builds rose — sleek, expensive, and out of reach for many.
It’s hard not to feel cynical watching a story rewrite itself. But it’s also a reminder: cities evolve, not always in ways we expect. And sometimes, the places we love change shape while we’re not looking.
🌉 How San Francisco Shaped Us
San Francisco is the only city we’ve returned to. The only place where every corner felt like it belonged to us. It taught us how to travel — not just logistically, but emotionally. It showed us how to move through unfamiliar spaces with confidence, curiosity, and care.
It became our blueprint. Every trip since has carried echoes of it — in the way we plan, the way we adapt, the way we seek out the quiet corners and unexpected views. It’s not just a destination. It’s a compass.
📚 From Journal to Legacy — Growing a Creative Project
What started as a travel log has grown into something far more personal. These journals are now a kind of legacy — a creative archive, a comfort when travel isn’t possible. They remind us of what we’ve seen, what we’ve overcome, and what we still dream of.
Turning them into an eBook was a challenge, but a rewarding one. Learning to nest chapters, structure the flow, and polish the presentation took time. Now, I’m exploring audio versions — stitching together voice clips, experimenting with narration, and trying to capture the tone that lives between the lines. It’s slow work, but meaningful.
🖼️ Rediscovering Memories Through Writing
Revisiting these words has been unexpectedly emotional. I thought the feelings might fade — that time would soften the edges. But instead, they’ve sharpened. The memories feel more vivid now than they did then. It’s as if the years have carved the stories more clearly, not less.
Looking at the old photos, I don’t just remember what we saw. I remember how it felt. The laughter, the fatigue, the quiet triumphs. The way Jane smiled at the sea lions. The way the light hit the Bay Bridge at sunset. The way San Francisco made us feel like we belonged.
✈️ Looking Forward
We’re not quite ready to travel again — not yet. But the pull is strong. And planning costs nothing. Dreams are just plans waiting for their turn.
Just like New York once was.
And when the time comes, we’ll be ready. Because San Francisco didn’t just give us memories. It gave us momentum.
It visited us. And it never really left.
—
Jane & Con, 2025
“There are places we visit, and places that visit us. San Francisco did both — and never really left.”
