Nothing quite as stunning as a little re-birth.  So let me know when that apartment under you becomes available...maybe by then I will have figured out how to move my husband and self up to SF.

I know this is kind of off your main point, but the realtor/landlord in me is wondering who said the backyard could be paved over?  Do you guys both rent?

The story about the old bank building really touched me for some reason.  I suppose I’m hoping there is some such beauty and integrity hiding underneath all this yuck I seem to have.

i had the same question as becky.
great post, dan.

I live upstairs from my landlady.  she just brought us a wonderful bag of lychee nuts from new may wah - amazingly sweet and juicy.  she paved the yard because oma was having trouble walking on it, and it was a lot of work to keep it up to her standards.  but thanks, guys.