The classic tension in our little coastal town is development vs preservation. It’s at the core of our local politics. Sometimes it’s a battle in my own heart too.

I’m energized by human creativity, by builders, especially those expressions that fuel economic growth. The red tape here can be mind-boggling, self-amputating.

But I also love the still-wild parts of our town. The fog. The open land. The flora and fauna that thrive in it.

Last night I started collecting old photos from my area and felt that California spirit. That Gold Rush energy. That you can just do things.

I also saw the untamed edges. The parts that shrink a little more with every project built, including mine.

This morning I’m simply marveling at all of it: what came before, what’s to come, and this brief moment I get to be a part of it.