Visited by Rastas II

     So, cannabis quickly became an important part of my every day (or nearly so).  A trait that I have shared with the Rastas from day zero to the present (though they were unknown to me at the time).
     Fast-forward to day 1180. "I know, a few days more than three and a half years". San Jose behind us along with our old selves; our new selves now comfortably ensconsed in a large Victorian on Divisadero St. where we had originally planned to use a 2500 square foot, street level space as a store/shop for things we crafted from various re-cycled materials. Two seven-room flats on the top floor of the building provided residence for those of us working there. On the same street, within a couple of blocks of us, were probably a half-dozen or more gift shops and second-hand stores, including the famous "Third Hand Store"  doing, according to their owners, quite well. so, we expected we could possibly do the same.  Maybe " same" isn't quite the right word.
     We were in the very-early part of preparing our street-level space for its exciting new life as a trendy little money-catcher just two flights down from our pretty scrumptous digs, which we had just re-finished, when we became aware that we new-comers to San Francisco were among a huge influx of people coming from all over the country and from many places abroad. The summer before had, after all, been the  "summer of love" in  "The City" and, the media had covered it well and often and apparantly had convinced thousands to check  it out in person.
     Our first day working at street level was an eye-opener.  A couple of dozen curious passers-by came in to inquire about job possibilities, places to stay, the nature of our business, etc. A couple asked if they could crash there for a night or two and leave their stuff with us during the day,while they found their place. At that point, the street-level space was unheated, not weather-secure and the floor was bare concrete.  We put the couple in the spare bedroom in our flat upstairs. A very comfortable room for two which we arranged for a time when family might visit. Our guests were happy with it and we were happy to make it available. In the next few days we talked to many new-comers, mostly young adults and teens, living out of their backpacks and often sleeping under the stars. People who, for one reason or another, have left some home somewhere in America or abroad to get together with others who want to make love; not war.  And everything else that that implies. None of this was a surprise to me.  I just hadn't thought about a great number of folks suddenly moving to the City at the same time as I.  Or that so many of them would be in my neighborhood and in such need. In about two weeks after we started work at street level, we decided to abandon the trendy store plan and adopt a plan that would have us making stuff from re-cycled materials (mostly  high quality, commercial grade carpet remnants) which we'd sell to support the operation of our place as a sort-of transient aid station;supplying food, shelter, base of operation (address, telephone, laundry, workspace). Services supplied at rates affordable to clients even if they can afford nothing.
     Please excuse another pause while I consult my notes.