The Real View

We are just beginning to hear and see stories of people returning to the burned heaps of rubble that were once their homes. They sift through some of the debris and find broken china, perhaps a metal bed frame, perhaps a spoon. They are somber, and some are in tears, as they survey the charred remains of a former life. 

The common response of all, though, has been a profound gratitude for life. The fires may have stolen a lifestyle and its mementos, but they also have gifted people with a new appreciation for living. 

A few days ago, I spoke with some who thought people would be leaving San Diego by the droves.

At that time I thought not--and still do. 

A family whose home was destroyed in Ramona was asked by a reporter if they were going to pull up stakes and move. The owner replied that his burned house is just a house, but Ramona is home. They will rebuild and remain in their home: Ramona. That is their community, where friends pull together and share a common history. Fires cannot destroy that bond.

I have spoken with several people whose La Costa area homes were destroyed 12 years ago in the Harmony Grove Fire. Most rebuilt and remained in the community--because it is the community that is home. 

No one means to minimize the horrible trauma of losing one's home. There is the shock of the initial loss, the months of haggling with insurance companies and contractors, the problems of displacement and finding temporary shelter, the process of rebuilding a lifestyle. 

But the process of rebuilding a lifestyle allows for changes in living that might not have occurred otherwise. The rebuilt home may be configured differently, may better reflect your identity, may better serve your needs. And the rebuilding will be a process shared by the community, which will further tighten the bonds between neighbors and friends.

San Diego will survive and thrive.

If grass can grow through concrete, life can arise from the ashes.

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I live in San Diego County and my home has not been consumed by fire.

For that I am grateful.

But we also live in a home that is covered by a powdery coating of ash. Our youngest son, as he sweeps the patio, wonders about the origin of the ashes. Did they come from a tree? From someone's house? From a burned animal?

I ask him to stop--and think of other possibilities. What about toxic chemicals? Asbestos? Plastic toxins? And a host of other poisons.

I run inside and pull out one of the masks I retrieved from Scripps Encinitas Hospital, where my Dad is currently hospitalized.

The toxins from the ash warrant the following precautions:

•  Don't use a blower to disperse the ash. You will only further pollute the air and your lungs.
• Wear gloves, long sleeves and masks. The skin absorbs and so do lungs.
• Don't use water to wash the ash into storm drains. It is toxic to all life forms.
• A simple solution is to mist the ashes prior to sweeping. This will prevent the ashes from dispersing into the air and into your lungs.

Fallbrook, located in northern San Diego County, has been especially hard-hit by the Rice Fire. 7500 acres have been destroyed so far by this wildfire, and fully one-third or more of their avocado groves are lost. It is not yet known how many trees are "simply" damaged and will not be producing fruit this season.

This most recent loss comes on the heels of last January's killing freeze that blighted millions of dollars in crops.

Additional avocado grove and crop losses are yet to be reported by Valley Center, San Pasqual Valley and other avocado growing regions in San Diego County.

The results will be far reaching.

California is the leading avocado producer in the nation, and San Diego County is home to one third to one-half of the state's approximate 60,000 acres of avocado production.

Agriculture is big business in San Diego County, and avocados are a significant crop--particularly in the Fallbrook area. It is likely this will affect pricing at the store level. 

Perhaps now is the time to start stocking up on frozen guacamole.... 

I awoke at 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning with a sense of dread, and quickly remembered that there is a demon called the Witch Creek Fire raging in the communities around our home in La Costa. It is just one of several mega-firestorms raging in San Diego County-and is the one we fear(ed) the most.

Monday afternoon, the Reverse 911 system called to inform us we are under "volunteer evacuation" guidance. After some consideration, we elected to remain home because the fires were distant and the ocean even closer. A half-packed suitcase still sits by the bedroom door, and we are ready to leave with fast notice.

As I tiptoed downstairs in the dark, I wondered which of our sons had been burning incense. I then realized that threads of smoke from the fires had slipped into our home. Why did it smell almost-fragrant?

Stepping outside in the pre-dawn hours, I saw reassuring stars in the sky. Monday, the sun was red as it glowed behind huge layers of smoke and soot. The air is still full of floating ash and other waste from the fires. The winds are still, there are fewer lights in the hills and the bottoms of my feet stay black because of barefoot habits. As our youngest son Mark sifts soot and leaves from the pool, he wonders aloud from whose home or what trees these ashes had come.

Television news stays on. Over 500,000 people in San Diego County have been evacuated, 25,000 are without power and we all hanging onto news reports and trying to sort out the rumors that are raging with the fires. I am following the aptly-named Witch Fire, because it is the one which continues to endanger our own community.

Coastal Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Carlsbad and Oceanside are still intact. Rancho Santa Fe has suffered losses, but contrary to rumors, Cielo and The Crosby have lost no homes to the fires.  Parts of The Bridges were reported to be in flames; several homes off Via de la Valle and across from Morgan Run Golf Club were burned; we heard that Fairbanks Ranch was in the path of flames, and it appears firefighters were able to stop the Witch Fire at Escondido Creek, which would have put Encinitas and South Carlsbad in danger.

The latest? Hamony Grove, source of the costly Harmony Grove Fire 12 years ago, is now under mandatory evacuation.

The Witch Fire, as it is now called, has very expensive taste....

It has been so hard to post blogs these last few days. Communications have been very personal: Telephone calls (friends, family and clients) and emails have dominated free time.

Active Rain's Sharon Filbig of Escondido was evacuated and is staying in Orange County. She emailed this morning, wondering what is going on. I responded with an update--which I will share with you here. These are more random notes than any kind of blog. We still don't have an accurate picture of the total disaster--or a tally of losses. (Sorry for lack of photos. I am on the Mac and have trouble uploading. They will follow.)

 
The coastal areas (Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, etc) are off evacuation advisement. Olivenhain has reopened to residents only and ID will be checked.

I-5 is closed, however, at Camp Pendleton because of a backfire that got out of control and jumped the freeway. Traffic is stalled for miles.

I-15 is open for north/south travel. Coastal breezed may be helping the situation in Fallbrook, which is still evacuated. I spoke with Alonzo Castro (First American Title) yesterday afternoon. He lives in Fallbrook and is one of around 10 percent who stayed behind. He said the air is terrible.

Jamul is now under evacuation orders. Flames from the Harris Fire in one of the areas there are 500 feet tall.

Military resources have provided some amazing assistance in fighting the fires--especially in aircraft resources. It is phenomenal to see these helicopters dropping thousands of gallons of water onto the fires.

Hotels are at 100 percent capacity, but perhaps that will ease as people are allowed to return home.

I think the rental market is going to become a real squeeze in San Diego County, and that our local economy will thrive.

No new fire-related deaths in the last 48 hours. That is a blessing.

Compare to Katrina Disaster: 500,000 people evacuated (more than Katrina), thousands of structures destroyed, little looting, and awesome response from police, fire, volunteers and community leaders--and now the military.  Separate shelters are even being set up for pets and larger animals. Boarding (as reported) is free until November 5.

Corporate donations have been remarkable.

I am so proud of San Diego County--and how so many have responded so well.

What is that saying: Grass grows greener after a prairie fire....

Let's pray for rain.

I stayed up late last night watching the news of fires that were raging across many parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties. Temporary shelters were being set up everywhere and smoke was thick at coastal Scripp's Encinitas Hospital where my father was taken, (winds are blowing east to west), as well as in Rancho Santa Fe where we had gone to Milles Fleurs to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

It will be a night remembered. 

Early pre-dawn, we were awakened by a call from our regional Reverse 911. It was a recroding which alerted us that nearby Cal State San Marcos is being evacuated--as is Coronado Hills. Fires have now popped up in Fallbrook and eastern county near Julian is in blazes. South County near Otay Mesa has been an inferno. Also affected are Rancho Bernardo and Poway.

The Santa Ana winds are howling outside. I looked out after rising this morning (and after the call) and saw our outdoor umbrella toppled, the pool full of leaves and debris everywhere.

The eastern sky is dark brown--and advancing in our direction quickly. The heavy smoke smell has not yet reached South Carlsbad.

But I am worrying about Eve Sieminski in our group who is currently on a cruise with her husband, and whose home is in the potential path of this destroyer.

Carmel Mountain Ranch is close to evacuation. Active Rain's William Johnson may be forced to evacuate.

Interstate 5 is jammed, because Interstate 15 is closed. The San Diego Wild Animal Park in San Pasqual is in danger--as is South Escondido.

Officials are asking people to stay home from work today unless absolutely necessary. Most schools in the county that are open are keeping kids indoor during recesses.  Exercising outdoors is probably not a healthy idea. Palomar college has closed for the day.

Usually, Santa Ana winds die down at night.

Not this time.

We awoke to a situation that turned far more deadly overnight.... 

(For some reason, cannot post photos this morning) 

Maureen McCabe...QUEEN Maureen,  has accomplished the unthinkable:

Over 100,000 POINTS FROM ACTIVE RAIN INVITEES ONLY. I had never even considered the possibility of that achievement, given that most of the 14 people I have invited don't blog very much.

I thought everybody would appreciate this email I just received from Queen (Mother) Maureen. It should inspire us all to bring more bloggers to Active Rain!

 
Thanks I just went over 100K points for invites and I want to thank all those who did it. All 66.

Invite Points: 100029

thanks for the big chunk from you. I dislike points but I like the invite points because it shows how inviting good bloggers can positively affect the network.

Active Rain bloggers who reach this pinnacle deserve recognition of a different sort. They are the ones who sowed the seeds for Active Rain's phenomenal growth.

I offer a thousand balloons--and a million thanks --to Maureen for her AR invite to me in August, 2006.

In our coastal San Diego luxury real estate market, buyers are practically manic about their closets–and especially the ones in the master suite.

And what are luxury home buyers seeking in closets?

They are most pleased when there are separate closets for each–or if single, separate closets for the seasons. The compleat closet in the luxury home will be spacious, well lighted and masterfully organized. It is a room where we prepare ourselves to meet the world–or simply the day.

Closets hold our clothing, our personal treasures, our shopping triumphs. Its status in homes has been elevated to be far more than functional storage. People now want to spend real time in their master bedroom closets.

And what are some features they would like to see?

• A staggered hanging carousel for shirts, skirts and jackets.
• A swing rod that comes down and eliminates strain from reaching up for hangers–especially in closets with the more prevalent high ceilings.
• Banks of bureau drawers that are fully extendable, and which have super-quiet concealed glides that prevent snaggy contact.
• All shelves are smooth, snag-proof and have vertical dividers that can be adjusted for height.
• A built-in floor or wall safe for valuables.
• A few locking drawers.
• Floor to ceiling mirrors. Natural lighting is often achieved with protected skylights.
• Large spaces for organized shoe storage.
• A dressing bench.
• It is also a plus when laundry facilities are nearby.

Other bonuses and accessories in the luxury home master closet would be rotating show carousels, scarf and tie cellarets, jewelry inserts, tasteful garment bags, lingerie caches, decorative storage boxes, and wicker storage baskets with washable cotton liners.

If your closets come nowhere near this description (and my own do not), the best and first thing you can do (whether you plan to sell or not) is to clear it out and keep only those things that you love–and those which love you by hanging so well on your body. Look at your emptied closet and determine if it needs paint, new rods, shelves, scented shelf paper, or new lighting. Is there room for a mirror? A dressing bench? Might it be organized differently? Is there room to move in a small chest?

(If you follow Feng Shui, this might also be the time to introduce needed elements to the room.)

A closet re-do will yield great benefits to you, whether you intend to sell your home or not. Nothing beats the sense of peace and control that comes from having a beautifully organized personal closet that is used day in and day out. And if you are selling your home, it is a feature potential home buyers will also appreciate.

The bedroom closet may be a small thing, but is one of the most frequently used spaces in the home.

Other reading:

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Breaking All Barriers: Luxury Homes Reach Nine Figures

What is a Luxury Home?

United States a Bargain for $1Million Homes?

Ultra-Luxury Home Sales to Soar in 2007?

World’s Most Expensive Mansion

Luxury Home Management: Ask for the Butler

Montana Luxury Real Estate Coup?

The No Fear Estate

Luxurious Intuitive Homes

Gotta Haves for Luxury Homes

The Snoring Room

Luxury Home for Jets and Toys

The Venetian Plaster Master

The Luxury Blingdex

Easy Feng Shui Tips for the Luxury Home

D.Porthault Sheets for Luxury Dreams

Interactive Luxury Home Surfaces

San Diego Luxury Real Estate 

It's time for North San Diego County gardners to clear out the ragged flower beds and make way for new growth.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 100 local growers, Quali Botanical Gardens will be selling  donated tropical plants, fruit trees,plant books, bird houses and other items as part of their fund raising efforts.

The sale takes place this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024.

For additional information, call (760)436-3036, ext. 206. 

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to join others at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club for Brian Brady's always-outstanding Agent Meet-Up. The guest speaker was the dashing Steve Hundley from 1 Park Place. They offer a very thorough IDX search function and cool websites, with only a couple of missing bells or whistles. Active Rain's Jeff Dowler was also in attendance.

1 Park Place also offers a database management system that shows promise, at least from my perspective.

I need to make a decision for a new website IDX solution and MLS alert system by year's end, and am searching for solutions. 

If you could choose an ideal IDX search, MLS Alert system (where clients are notified of new listings meeting their search criteria), and database management program, what are some of the features you would want? 

Below are just a few of my own:

1. The abiiity to select the point at which the client registers his or her information. I would choose late in the information gathering process.

2. The ability for a system to weed out the "Mickey Mouse" contact information. 

3. A rich information experience for the property browser; the ability to see photos and detailed information.

4. Community information: People are always asking about schools, neighborhoods and demographics. Wouldn't that be a great feature?

5. The ability to immediately adjust a new registrants search features.  I had that with Soar Solutions and want it again. I do not want to have to log in as the client (with their password) to tweak their search parameters.

6.  Why not provide answers to client questions such as: How far is this house from the school? How far from the beach? How far to my work?

What features would you add? Let's make a wish list for the providers.