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Hunkering down before the storm

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

Rainstorms have been all too rare in the San Francisco Bay Area in the last three years. However, this winter has a different feel to it. We've had several days of rain in the last couple of weeks, and the thirsty hillsides are beginning to green up as new grass sprouts.

Tomales Bay, West Marin County, CA

Now, we're hunkering down for a storm that is supposed to be the strongest since 2009. High winds, followed by heavy rains are expected in Marin and Sonoma Counties this evening, spreading south to San Francisco, then the Peninsula and Silicon Valley during the night. By morning, flooding, downed power lines and fallen trees are expected. Not to mention havoc on the roadways.

  • Schools will be closed in San Francisco on Thursday
  • Schools will be closed in Novato on Thursday and Friday
  • Sandbags are being made available to residents of San Carlos, and the coastal cities of Half Moon Bay and neighboring towns
  • PG&E has crews standing by at the most vulnerable locations
  • My hostess has just brought me a battery-powered lantern, a scene that is being played out in many locations

I am in West Marin at present, checked into a lovely old house in Inverness Park, the Abalone Inn. I'm here for an intensive business review and planning session, wrapping up and assessing 2014 (did I meet or exceed my various goals? what challenges did I face? what do I need to improve on in the year to come?)

Room at Abalone Inn, Inverness Park CA

I will set my large, overall business plan for 2015, and begin to flesh it out with details.

I will tackle one overdue project and see it through to completion - organizing and changing passwords to my various sites, both business and personal.

I have my salads and lasagna in the refrigerator; the microwave is across the room; the coffee pot is ready to go. And I'm ready to really concentrate and accomplish a lot this afternoon, this evening, into the night, and again tomorrow morning.

It is now 3:20 PM, the rains have just begun, earlier than expected. Let's hope the power remains on as the wind whips and sheets of rain come down.

Rains begin in Inverness Park, CABattery powered lantern
















It's time to hunker down. And this drought-wearied Californian is happy.

Comments (14)

Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Lottie, I see you have your camping lantern, just in case. Hopefully there are no fumes to worry about! I am so jealous of you taking the time to get away by yourself to get the important planning done! GOOD FOR YOU!

Dec 10, 2014 08:30 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Evelyn Johnston - nice new photo!! Having no one and nothing to pull me away (other than getting caught up on much needed sleep!) is great. I know the hours will fly as I do one task after another.

Dec 10, 2014 08:53 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Lottie

First of all good luck with your planning!

I am glad we are expecting more rain - it is SOOOO badly needed here, and all over CA. HOpefully it will be gradually and not a torrent which always causes flooding and mudslides

Stay safe!

Jeff

Dec 10, 2014 01:12 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Thanks, Jeff Dowler CRS - with no one here but me, I'm getting lots of great work done--while listening to the rain pummel the roof of my attic room . My husband reports the streets in San Francisco were horrible to navigate this evening with seemingly everyone out on errands before the storm hits. Getting back to the City tomorrow might be torturous -- maybe I should extend my stay by one more night????

Dec 10, 2014 03:01 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Lottie. It seems like one extreme to another, first a long drought and now all kinds of rain. Hope the result of all the rain solves some of the drought problems with out a lot of damage.

Dec 10, 2014 05:36 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning Lottie. I have heard that you are in for quite the event. Hopefully, the damage will be kept to a minimum. As with any big rain storms in your area, flooding and mudslides can be a huge factor.

Dec 10, 2014 05:44 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Lottie-Stay safe. Mother nature doesn't always play nice. Good luck with the business planning

Dec 10, 2014 06:03 PM
Suzanne De Vita
RISMedia
Online Associate Editor

Be well, Lottie! Good for you for plotting out your course of action for 2015 in spite of the storm! Stay safe.

Dec 10, 2014 11:03 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Joe Petrowsky and Michael Thornton - I'm snug in my B&B-with lights on! Power outage affected my husband in SF; I can't reach anyone by phone; flash flood warnings for San Carlos and most of San Mateo counties. We're definitely getting much needed rain--too bad so much at once.

Dec 11, 2014 01:16 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Sharon Lee - my planning went wonderfully well yesterday and last night. I'm usually up at 5:30 AM, but today slept until 8:45!!! I think I needed the sound of the rain on the roof!

Hello Suzanne De Vita - the only change I made was to cancel from a retreat center in the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains where there is no cell phone or internet - didn't like the thought of redwood trees coming down across the road and being isolated.!

Dec 11, 2014 01:23 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lottie Kendall watching the news and sure sounds like you are getting slammed with rain.    Hope you have power in your room, and you can continue to work.    Stay safe!  

Dec 11, 2014 03:14 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

thanks, Joan Cox - I'm good; have power; getting regular work done; hope to get back to business planning mid afternoon and tonight. I'm staying one more night here--don't want to tackle the roads today; 93,000 in SF (including our place) without power.

Dec 11, 2014 04:48 AM
Judith Parker
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Good evening Lottie ... I think you have been quite productive with your day and glad you are prepared and staying close to home until these storms pass.  Stay safe and warm!

Dec 11, 2014 07:54 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Thanks for your concern, Judith Parker - I've had a delightfully productive 2 days; 1 day business planning, today back to regular work. I'll  be ready to venture forth on the road tomorrow, heading back to San Francisco and down the Peninsula for clients. A change of pace can be wonderful.

Dec 11, 2014 12:28 PM