// the mood & vibes this week
— hi, friends :) writing this to you from canyon coffee in echo park, los angeles … one of my favorite haunts to hang out/work in. there's been so much happening these last two weeks, wow, can't wait to tell ya.
— when we last chatted, i had just told you about a camping trip to a lake outside los angeles, and was on my way to my dad's in san diego for the weekend.
— i had the best time in san diego. it's really such an interesting and different pace of life down there than even LA … the beach culture is incredible. my dad lives about six blocks from the surf, and i basically spent the weekend on the sand and eating california burritos (which is pretty much what i do all the time). it almost felt like everyone was a few degrees more relaxed. maybe it's the traffic, maybe it's the array of bars off the boardwalk, who knows. but i will say … it makes me want to experience living down there someday.
— after san diego, i had a blip in LA which was super eventful. in that time, my listing at 3645 3rd avenue closed !! woohooo!!!! for $1,340,000 - a whopping $140K over list price. preparing that haus was incredible & i'm thrilled for the new buyers. to see such a marvelous result, in not the most hot market of all time, was pretty fabu if i do say so myself.
— then, i drove up to norcal for a camping trip with my close friend. we went to the russian river, which is this incredible spot in norcal's wine country that is essentially smack dab in the middle of a redwood forest. it was … incredible … literally how i want every weekend to be.
— we kayaked at sunset … i swam in the warm water … made fires & laid in the sun & yes, ate more burritos (i calculated that in this week i literally ate seven. SEVEN!?!?!?). after, we stopped at my aunt's house in wine country that's been in my family since the 70s. it's this epic early midcentury ranch on a few acres with the most banger pool, mini-vineyard, and yummy period details. if i could exist there 24/7 i absolutely would.
— and now, i am writing this to you back in LA from that trip, and back in the mix again. i'm navigating a new escrow on a stunning haus i can't wait to share with you, so that's super exciting. our team has a f*ck ton of hot listings right now so i'm bouncing all over town. also, starting prep on a listing i have coming up next month, woot woot.
— feeling … all the things. grateful that i have had so much time in the woods lately. excited about work things. also, constantly re-evaluating how i'm showing up offline & online … the same ol' same ol not-so-IG friendly feelings … things i struggle with as a sometimes-anxious person.
— it's wild sometimes, having this dialogue with you through the interwebs. i know some of my friends in the design/real estate space will relate to this … but there's a unique balance between sharing your work & sharing your life.
— it feels like, when you use your socials to talk about and promote your work, there's an expectation to act like you have every aspect of yourself squared away - and not share the messier or more human parts of your life … so you can appear to be this consummate professional all the time.
— to that end, i occasionally worry that when i write a witty caption, or even do something as simple as writing in lowercase over email, it makes me seem less “serious” or “capable” of doing the things i love.
— yet … maybe we can push against that. maybe i can keep sharing with you openly, and still have you trust that i do stellar work. because in many ways, i am actively figuring so much of my life out as a young person. as in - what do i want to do. where do i want to be. who do i want to do it with. i want to be transparent about all of that, and not pretend to be anything i'm not.
— ok, done with the tangent. i figured this might be an interesting thought for anyone who uses social media in a similar way that i do.
— wonder what you're feeling this week. maybe respond and tell me.
— talk to you soon, and sending love.
xx,
sam
