I’ve been working in San Mateo for a few years now, and I’ve grown to really like it.
Less than 30 minutes away on the CalTrain, it has a surprising amount going for a little town. For instance it has tons of great places to eat, like Curry Up Now for modern Indian street food plus yummy cocktails; Sozai Corner for excellent — and cheap — Japanese curry; Saigon City for really good pho; and much more.
But one of my favorite places has to be the Japanese garden.
Less than a five-minute walk from my office, I head out there when I want to stretch my legs, convene with nature, clear my head, get some peace, or all of the above.
I love seeing the different birds, like a mother duck with her babies —
A snowy egret:
And a kingfisher:
When I was dealing with relationship stuff, I’d come here every day. I’d walk, listen to the water, and watch the birds, trying to figure things out, and then after I realized there was nothing to figure out, to get past it all.
It’s a place I’ll really miss.