The Path of the Bookseller

Since (and to a significant extent, because of) my last post, things seem to be coming together for a return to San Francisco.

I have told my landlord that I will be leaving at the end of May (not that I have much of a choice, since I can’t pay the May rent). If all goes as planned, I have where to live in Berkeley from the beginning of June through early August, either staying with or housesitting for friends or, for most of it, staying in a small cottage on another friend’s property.

I will be filing the paperwork in the morning to transfer to a store within our chain back in San Francisco. I’m told by people there that I should have no problem getting the transfer. (Of course, I’ve been told that before: while my first attempt to transfer to a store out here from my first store seemed to work out immediately, it fell apart in the ensuing weeks.) I don’t know how many hours per week I’ll be working, but I hope to get more than I’ve been getting here, since that store is on a somewhat sturdier financial footing.

I’ve been talking to a friend in San Francisco, who will be away for the summer, about our finding a place together starting in August.

A lot of issues are undetermined, to say the least. I don’t know how I will be getting to San Francisco, or how I will transport my stuff and keep it somewhere until I have a place for it.

I can easily give away what little furniture I have. I think the only item that I’d miss would be my office chair, and I could probably replace it more economically than I could transport it (though it looks like it costs about twice as much at Ikea as when I first bought it). The rest of my stuff consists mostly of books, media, manuscripts, electronic gear, a small amount of kitchen stuff, and clothes.

I’m looking at various options such as a U-Haul, driveaways, movers, and the like. I’ll be able to send the books, manuscripts, and other media by media mail, which, as I’ve said in the past is an incredible deal. But schlepping the rest will be a challenge.

Thanks to all who have offered help and advice. I’ll keep everyone posted as things progress.