goodbye blue sky
As I write, we’re flying back to England. But this time it’s no vacation. In fact, we’ll be calling that a “holiday” from now on. You see, this is a one-way trip –we’re leaving California, our Eichler, and our MINI behind. Some of you knew this was coming, some had an inkling, and some had no clue. But we’ve known a while. And it further explains our posting pause (in addition to Fog). So why did we leave?
After almost seven years of living in the US (three in Boston, four in Sacramento) we’re fed up. Fed up with feeling like second-class citizens. Fed up with playing the visa game. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s a misconception that emigrating to the US is easy. We had no route to permanent residency or retirement, despite investing $100K upfront, employing US citizens, and manufacturing there.
But that’s not the whole story. We miss family and friends in the UK. And we’ve missed many of their significant birthdays, weddings, even funerals. And while we’ll now miss those occasions in reverse, it’s time to redress the balance. Time to go home. But it’s bittersweet. We’re sad to leave California, Sacramento, our neighbo(u)rhood, the wonderful friends we’ve made, and our beloved (now empty) Eichler.
Our furniture is currently floating across the ocean…hopefully safely onboard a ship. We (or these guys) loaded this 20’ x 8’ x 8’ shipping container in Sac, and it won’t arrive in Cheltenham ’til the end of September! It’s a long, long way. Having your possessions at the mercy of the ocean is unsettling. Fingers crossed.
Not all our furniture is making the trip. To our ex-neighbors’ (and our) benefit, we sold our bedroom dressers/nightstands, dining table/chairs, and a few other pieces. But you’ll soon recognize some familiar furniture from our Eichler days. That said, these most recent memories are devoid of any furniture –another strange reversal, echoing our early days in Sacramento.
We had a while to get used to the idea of leaving, having sold then rented-back our Eichler for the last few months. When the time came to go, we were okay with it. The magnitude of managing a move across the pond (plus Fog’s ordeal) took our minds elsewhere. Ultimately, we were sad to leave, and there were some tears. This wasn’t helped by multiple neighbours showing-up to see us off…but we appreciate the gesture. And we’re happy how this chapter closed.
I failed to finish this post on the plane –the lure of Virgin Upper Class indulgence got in the way. We justified the upgrade thanks to our six overweight suitcases. And it being a one-way trip. So, now we’re back in Cheltenham, where we lived previously. A spa town in the Cotswolds, known for its well-preserved Regency and Victorian architecture. Certainly no mecca for modernism…in fact, you’ll see more red postboxes than modernist houses (this one in our new neighbourhood).
Importantly, though, most of the people we know live in and around this pretty town, and it feels like home. There will be negative trade-offs. I have the Happy Days theme tune in my head, reversed: “goodbye blue sky, hello grey”. Weather is not on the ‘pros’ list, clearly, but we’re looking forward to wearing more of our wardrobe –coats, hats, gloves, and scarves that never left the house in Sacramento. But that can wait –the weather has actually been pretty decent since we got back.
Another departure, our new (rented) accommodation is about as far-removed from mid-century modern as it gets. That’s our street (above) and our new house (below) –a three-storey (English spellings from now on) Victorian townhouse, just a short stroll from the centre of Cheltenham.
It may surprise you that we’re fans of this architecture. We like anything with volume and glass –including Eichlers, lofts, church conversions (we almost bought one here years ago) and period properties, like this one. It’s smaller than we’re used to (2 beds/1 bath + basement, over 1300+ SqFt) but a good size by British standards, and plenty big enough for us.
So now we have another empty space to contend with –but not totally empty. Thanks to generous family and friends, we arrived with chairs to sit on, a bed to sleep on, and a well-stocked kitchen…including beer. This was supplemented by a thoughtful gift from our good friend (and ex-Eichler neighbour) John, who supplied this travel-proof Sactown-fave IPA. Tasted so sweet this side of the pond, thank you!
We are SO grateful for everyone’s support –we even got taken to SFO, courtesy of our ex-neighbor (Karen) and collected at Heathrow by my sister (also Karen, to keep things simple) –thanks guys! Now we’re here, it feels surreal, compounded by the jet lag. It’ll feel weird for a while longer, no doubt, especially without all our stuff. Here’s our living room, with a borrowed TV, IKEA chairs, and two familiar-looking numbers…
We couldn’t resist ordering these Robin Day 675 Chairs ahead of our arrival –the same type we left behind (now residing in two neighboring Eichlers) but with a different palette –black leather/black legs/walnut backs, replace cream/stainless steel/oak. These will sit either end of our (yet to arrive) dining table, in the space just behind where they are now. Through that opening, the kitchen.
A pretty slick addition, installed by the current owners, in recent years. Glossy cabinets/doors house an integrated dishwasher and fridge/freezer (per UK norms). There’s also an oversized induction hob (AKA cooktop), retracting downdraft extractor, and twin ovens –ironically, we barely need one oven, being within walking distance of many restaurants and takeaway options. But we’re not complaining.
Talking takeaways, it didn’t take us long to order some proper chips –there’s a great fish & chip shop within a short walk. Oh, that’s a “jumbo battered sausage”. And a “pickled egg”. Funny the things you miss when you can’t have them.
Still in the kitchen, these clerestory windows and skylights offer a taste of modernism, and a nod to days gone by. And the bi-fold doors open all the way back, which is pretty awesome. Not that English weather facilitates much indoor-outdoor living. Note the blue sky above, and puddles down below –a reminder that the weather here can change at any moment, any time of year.
Out back, a teeny-weeny courtyard garden with raised deck and patio –obviously a significant downsize for us…not that we’ll miss the maintenance. We’ve retained much of our outdoor furniture (this set came with the rental) so this will look a little crammed, and we’ll likely have to store some items, pending a house with more outdoor space.
We did try to buy here (sight-unseen, naturally) but couldn’t make the finances work. No trace of our UK credit history. A cruel and ironic reversal of our US move, where we waited a frustrating two years, while establishing credit. That coincided with a spike in house prices/interest rates. This time, the wait will be shorter (we hope) and the market isn’t too crazy…yet. A huge range of prices and sizes here. Something like this (just around the corner from us) would be nice, though a little beyond our means right now…
As I now write, it’s almost two weeks since we arrived –life is full of distractions, so I’ve struggled to complete this post. But now most of the big stuff is sorted, and it’s been easier/cheaper than expected. Not so cheap is our new car –this MINI Clubman Cooper S, which we pick up tomorrow. Ironically, much larger and more practical than we had in Sac. And we don’t even have a driveway, let alone a garage.
So, what next? Ultimately, we’d love to make a career of buying and selling houses. We’d also love to build our own modernist home. First, we have lives to re-start, relationships to re-form, and a town to get re-acquainted with. Posting frequency won’t be high (for a while, at least) but we’ll continue sharing our story here, and on Instagram, with the odd California flashback, no doubt With a shift in focus, we’re expecting some fallout, but we’d love you to stick around for the next chapter.
Brooke
I had wondered where you guys had gone with the silence on the blog. I’m sad to see that you’ve left Cali and your beautiful Eichler but I’m excited for you guys to go back home to be close to everyone and the new adventure ahead.
I think the future post will be very interesting to see how you blend your modern/minimalist style with older architecture. It’ll probably be a bit closer to what the average person has to contend with who don’t have access to MCM gems like your Eichler. No surprise that your Eichler would have sold quickly given that you both did such an amazing job on it!
All the best to you guys during the transition. I for one am looking forward to seeing how your apartment gets set up!
Andy
Hey Brooke! Yes, mixed emotions here too. We are looking forward to the arrival of our furniture, so we can make this place feel more like home. We’ve renovated a few properties of this era before, so it’s not totally alien to us, and I think it’ll work with our style. Shame we are renting, or we’d go to town. The kitchen addition is pretty darn cool already though, plus the bathroom is new, and somewhat luxurious. We also have a basement, and separate laundry room. But it’s outside the house we’re happiest, being only a short walk from everything. We’ve missed the urban lifestyle. Look forward to sharing our progress with you.
Greg
This made me so sad! I can’t imagine how difficult it was to sell your Eichler that you worked so hard on. I know it’s for the best, however. Hope you have plenty of opportunities to come back and visit the States. I’ll be following on your blog and IG.
Andy
Thanks Greg. It’s been pretty sad for us too. It was a difficult process, and tough to say goodbye to the place, and the people. But yes, it is for the best. We’re planning a trip back to California next year, and I’m sure there’ll be many other future visits. On the flipside, we have three sets of visitors already booked-in here!
Maia
I’m so sorry our paths in Sacramento did not cross in person. But I’m glad to have the chance to share in your story, here and there. And I love your new home! We are drawn to the same – light, and volume. And we will take inspiration from your remodel as we dive into our Eichler rescue project. Best of luck and when you come across the pond for a visit, I hope to meet you in person. Cheers!
Andy
Yes, a great shame the timing didn’t work out, Maia. I’m sure you guys will be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood, and we will definitely stop by for a visit when we come over! Best of luck with your “rescue project” –we look forward to seeing what you guys do, and we’d love to share a pic or two here when the time comes. Do keep us posted. Cheers!
tony
hi Andy. What a great start to your blog in the UK. You have written very positively and optimistically about the next phase in your lives and have received very moving comments from your friends and followers. All the best for your start in Cheltenham. You are sure to make a success of it and produce very interesting stories for fogmodern.
Andy
Thanks Tony! Yes, the start of a new chapter, and we have to be optimistic, however surreal it all feels right now! We have indeed been moved by everyone’s kind words, and hope we can maintain our US connections as we navigate the next phase of our lives.
Michelle
We’re sorry to see you go. As cliche as it is, everything seems to happen for a reason. Even just moving around the US brings on a lot of different emotions. I loved living in Austin TX for many reasons: music, food, beer, atmosphere, but we were an 18 hour drive from family (couldn’t fly with dogs) and our family didn’t have the means to visit us so it felt like we were living in a different country. We decided to move farther north to Nebraska to be closer to family. It was a bit of a shock to go from Texas to Nebraska, but I also told myself to look at the positives. My experiences are based on my choice in perspective. With those little self pep talks, I’ve been enjoying my time and ability to see family. I recently lost my grandmother unexpectedly and it was a good reminder that family is important, and to not take for granted them being here on earth.
I hope for the best for y’all!
Michelle
Andy
Thanks Michelle. When you’re that far from family you may as well be in a different country, so I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m glad you’re finding the positives in your new situation, and I’m sorry for your recent loss. And yes, life has a way of putting things in perspective, and reminding us to appreciate everyone and everything around us. Take care.
Frank and Maria
We miss you guys!
Andy
We miss you too! We’ll be back for a visit before you know it!
Jayme
I’m also sorry our paths never crossed in person. Your writings gave me the confidence and inspiration to buy my Eichler last year. Know that you left behind this and other legacies in the US!
Andy
Hi Jayme. Yes, sorry we never met, but so pleased to hear we inspired you in some way. We wish you many happy years in your Eichler!
juju
well i admit i saw a comment on fb a while ago that made me think this is what you were up to. i wish we could have been friends, and i wish we could have made this broken country more welcoming to you. but i must say, your new place is gorgeous! i love all kinds of architecture, but since our new (dumb) country doesn’t have the old beauties yours does, we are magnetized by the mid-century, light-flooded styles. i am blessed to work in a victorian daily, so i get the best of my two fave americana options.
all that said, i wish you the best of luck and envy your weather. i would gladly package up the sacramento temps and send them to you if i could!
cheers! xx
Andy
Yes, we haven’t exactly been hiding it, just not making a song and dance ’til now. And although our interactions have only been online really, we do consider you guys friends. Being over here doesn’t change that, and I hope we can stay in touch. It doesn’t surprise me that our architectural tastes are further aligned –we’ve always loved your style. You know, we’re quickly adjusting back to the (it could rain at any time) weather, and it isn’t all that bad. Any sunshine you could send would be appreciated though! Catch you soon…
Amy Moore
Well I hope you don’t think I’m weird or too intimate but two +/- months ago I had a dream I went to an open house at your Eichler that was for sale and I woke up very sad. It may have been around or before the time Fog was ill. I’ve only just met you both in person twice but your blog touched my heart and I know, all of the hearts of your followers. Your writing is moving and beautiful, the pictures and your work on your home inspiring and the fact that you shared your lives with us Americans has been such a treat. Thank you so much and please please keep us up on all your new pursuits in England especially renovating homes of all kinds and ages-that’s a passion I share!! I’m so sad the U.S. Is losing you. (Or chased you away) Farewell and take good care. We’ll all miss you !
Andy
Not too weird or intimate at all, Amy! Though it is a strange premonition you had. We ended up selling off-market, to avoid any fuss. We certainly could have got more $ with a big fanfare, but we’re content. I’m glad we did meet you a couple times, and I’m happy to hear our story has positively impacted you. It’s been a pleasure sharing our US adventure, and we’re happy that at least some people are interested in the next chapter. We look forward to posting more updates, and continuing to connect with people like you, who share our passion.
Christine
Good luck! I’ll miss your beautiful Eichler updates, but will be looking forward to happy beginnings of your new grand designs in good old Blighty. I often thought of our journeys as weirdly similar (we, too, moved from England to California, drove a Mini, fixed-up an Eichler and have a tuxedo cat that found us one day and never left). And we’re all too familiar with the immigration situation, thankfully we’re on the track for a green-card now… So if you ever visit LA and fancy staying over in Eichler here, do let us know.
Andy
Thank you, Christine! It won’t be the end of our modern house content –we have a few retrospective posts to do, plus are hoping for some English modern in our future. Funny, our stories are very aligned! We also hope to have another tuxedo cat in our lives, though probably not ’til we buy a place. Congrats on getting close to a Green Card! We didn’t take the easiest visa route, to be honest, so we can’t really complain. And thank you for the accommodation offer! We definitely plan on coming back, so would love to stop by and say hello, if everything aligns.
Gerry Hailer
Andy and Karen–your second paragraph is as heartbreaking as the fact that you felt you had to return to England in the first place. However, I would never think that migrating to the US would be easy. I would have considered the difficulty a sad given, particularly for good people such as yourselves. This is, in part, what breaks my heart about this whole story, and about my country. I remember Jean’s efforts to become a US citizen. It always confounded me how difficult it was, considering he knew more about American history, and about Boston and New England, while harboring a greater, more burning desire to be here than most native-born citizens. How he would be rejected, again and again–this hard-working, good-hearted, and proud man who embodied the American spirit in ways that many native citizens have lost sight of, or have taken for granted. You, too, fit that scenario. The United States was a little bit better place for your having been a part of it for a while. It is our loss every time good people like you are not granted citizenship, or face so many roadblocks, obstacles, and expenses that, in the final cost/benefit analysis, you deem it no longer worth the effort and expense. It’s wrong, and our president is not making America any greater in this regard. I might argue “any regard,” but that’s another story for another time. I am so deeply sorry it came to this, for these and other reasons. On the bright side, I do know that I returned to Boston from Texas for some similar reasons mentioned later in your writing, that is, the missing of family and friends, and all that is related to that, and a native homeland. The upside is, in moving back here, I was able to meet people like you, and Jean. So it goes, we bloom where we are planted, and sometimes, you really can go home again. May you both be in full bloom soon. We have missed you for a long time in these Northeastern parts, now you can proudly say that you will be missed from coast to coast. Best wishes and much love to both of you. Keep rocking. Once again, the United States was a better place for your having been here. This is our loss, too. Until we meet again, somewhere down the road, best regards. Gerry
Andy
Hey Gerry. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, and apologies for the delay. Life has a habit of getting in the way sometimes. That, and we just said goodbye to our first US visitor, after a short stay. Don’t be sad about the reasons for our departure. We knew what we were getting into, and that staying for good was a long shot. The system is certainly a little screwed, but permanent residency is possible, if you choose the right route, are determined enough, and willing to play the game. Jean’s singular focus on realizing his life’s dream is admirable, an inspiration to many, and a lesson to many more Americans who are deluded about what makes a country great. On that, I agree with your Trump assessment. And we are so glad you made it back to Boston, and your presence coincided with ours. We count you among the true friends we made there. We very much look forward to getting together again in the future. Take care, and speak soon…
Jon
Andy and Karen-
We all miss you terribly, but we know good things are ahead for you! As we discussed earlier before you left, it is a small world after all and it just takes a thought and a small chunk of change to get together. See you soon!!
Andy
Hey Jon! Again, apologies for the delay. We miss you guys so much too. Friends like you make moving so tough, but we wouldn’t swap the memories for anything. And, thankfully, it is indeed a small world these days. We can’t wait to welcome you and Jose to our little island –fun times ahead!