I grew up in South San Francisco, just 10 miles out of the Big City ~ but in those days worlds apart. A town that is now merely a crowded extension of the city, was then a quiet suburb sorrounded by creeks , farms and rolling hills. There were things to do ~ school clubs to belong to, and the scouts ~ there was recreation programs to sign up with, and teams to belong to.
But some of us spent our days close to the land ~ and took joy in the countryside. And we roamed the creeks and hills, and crossed town along the railroad tracks. We had trails and secret hiding places, and meeting places ~ and we built forts, and sometimes we traveled by hopping the train as it slowed down for the cross roads.
From the very beginning, some of us were filled with that yearning for the land in our hearts.