Since we are housesitting, our time in Oakland has been mostly focused on the dogs and the house. The dogs can be chill when not being walked, but they also like to play together and with their toys.
We also hear and see the BART train in the house, although it is not loud and definitely doesn’t keep us up at night.
Yesterday after Bob did his 2.2 mile walk. I went out to try to see some new areas around the neighborhood. I ended up at Jack London Square. This area is Oakland’s only publicly accessible mixed-use waterfront and marina area. It is named for the author Jack London, who was born in San Francisco in 1876 and is just a 30 minute walk from the house.
The plaque under the statue of Jack London includes a quote from him, which reads, “I would rather be ashes than dust. I should rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stilled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
A very bold quote, and one I agree with in terms of living versus existing. It should be noted that Mr. London achieved great success as an author and died at the age of 40 from dysentery and late-stage alcoholism, so he didn’t become a “sleepy and permanent planet.”
Today, Bob and I took the BART one stop into Oakland (away from San Francisco) to walk around lovely Lake Merritt, a 150-acre tidal lagoon, known as the first official US wildlife refuge. We had walked around the lake during a prior sit in Oakland nine years ago. It’s still very pretty.
from the West Oakland BART station
right outside the Lake Merritt BART station
These are various views from around the lake. The trail around the lake is 3.1 miles.
Peckish Travels 