How is one supposed to cram 10 years worth of friendships into a week?

We’ve been traveling down the Pacific Coast for three weeks now, but no matter how long we visit with good friends from our previous life, it’s never enough time to feel like we’ve completely caught up.

Drizzly rain has followed us down the coast from Washington to Northern California. We’re cold and we want to go somewhere warm, darnit.

But during our week-long visit to Humboldt County California, we both sensed a feeling that almost made us want to stay longer, maybe even permanently return, to our old stomping grounds where the land is beautiful and the people are real.

People are so real in Humboldt, that during dinner conversations or over beers, whenever we got together with our friends, not a single one ever pulled out an iPhone or other electronic gadget.

You tell me, when was the last time you sat at a table with people who actually talked, and listened?  Who made eye contact with you instead of staring into a screen?

Humboldt County is a special place like no other. We spent 10 years in this small community and although it wasn’t all good times, it was the last time we ever felt a real sense of community.

Despite the sucky weather, the poor economy and the great distance to any real city, just being there again makes us ask:

What else could you possibly need, when you’re surrounded by such good people and great beauty?