I grew up in Palo Alto, my Mom still lives in the same house I grew up in. After living away from the Bay Area in college in my early 20s, I decided this was a pretty nice place to be, came back and haven't left since.

I'm from Cincinnati. Having grown up in the Midwest I was excited to live in the less extreme weather of the west coast. The nearly endless day of blue skies and access to beaches and mountains are further reasons to live here!

Easy

Positive - thanks to Raziel's attitude and enthusiam!

Quick. Drewry first saw the house in early June and we had an accepted offer by the end of the month.

Exciting!

We looked at a lot of houses with Raziel before we found the one we bought, including two other Eichlers on the same block. Our dream was to buy an Eichler that needed a lot of work, one that we could restore to it's original glory, but we told ourselves that was just a dream. And then we found it!

It surprised me how quickly Raziel could make things happen, stress-free.

The Bay views.

The views, the access to the highway, the quiet atmosphere of the neighborhood, the proximity to an amazing city park with awesome views of the bay and airport!

Finishing the Peace Corps (Guatemala, 1990 - 1993)

Our 3 children, and remodeling this house (going from run-down and dismal to magazine worthy mid-century modern)

I thought I wanted to be a doctor until I took organic chemistry in college.

I thought I wanted to be fluent in 7 languages. Then I discovered art was my true calling.

There's a series of waterfalls on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala called Siete Altares (seven alters) that cascades from the jungle into the ocean. It's so remote you have to swim to get there. It's amazing, but don't tell anyone!

My favorite local hidden gem is Point Bonita Lighthouse in Marin - an amazing albeit easy cliff side hike/stroll with the most unbelievable payoff views of the Golden Gate Bridge and city.

Getting Drewry to go out with me for the first time. It took me five years of asking to get a date with her? We've been married for 21 years and have three children, so I guess it worked out!

Not being able to rescue more Eichlers.

Washing dishes at a summer camp in Vermont. My oldest son just applied for the same job at the same camp.

Being an usher at the equivalent to Shoreline Amphitheater in Cincinnati. I got to meet losts of bands and hear a lot of great music up close (Grateful Dead, Aqueeze, B52s, Sting, but also Rat, Mr. Mister, Loverboy...all the 80s hits!

Although he passed away in 2004, my father continues to inspire me. His name was Hans and when I have to make an important decision I still ask myself, "WWHD - What Would Hans Do?"

The endless optimism, encouragement, and graciousness of my mother inspires me.

I'm a big fan of The Classics: Animal House, Caddyshack, Fletch, Raising Arizona, and the like.

Ferris Bueller, Monty Python & The Holly Grail, and Wallace & Bromis movie, any Hayao Miyazaki movie, Life is Beautiful, Inception, The Martian.

The open-air atrium in our Eichler.

Agreed. It's unique and amazing - a room with a blue sky above, what's not to love?

I'm living it!

Travel with my family to Italy.

Heifer International, The Aloha Foundation, Room To Read.

Our children's public schools.

Have a plan so that you have something to deviate from.

Thank you for being you. Be the best you can possibly be.