Sign of the Times - Part 2

A sign of the times, part 2:

My best friend, who two years ago left Miami to be closer to her family in Northern California, called me this week to give me some sad news.

A designer who recently worked at Williams-Sonoma’s corporate offices assiting inproduct design, she suddenly finds herself out of work and forced to downsize — fast.

My 30-something single, childless friend – who led a low-cost lifestyle to begin with – now has to move in with family. She is forgoing her small but cozy apartment in the up-and-coming (which translates to more affordable) SoMa – South of Market — neighborhood in San Francisco to move into the small studio over the detached garage at her parents’ house several miles away in Carmel (which from the looks of this link is not such a bad deal ;).

“I love San Fran, but I just can’t stay anymore,” she told me by phone earlier this week.

“Come back to Miami,” I want to tell her. But I stop myself.

Florida is among the worst real estate – and retail – markets right now, sharing company with California. Many of the 7,000 positions cut this week by Macy’s were based in South Florida. Coming back here would not solve anything for her.

Always looking for a silver lining, my friend finds the bright spot in her change of lifestyle.

“I’m going back home,” she said warmly.

Who says you can’t go home again? She wouldn’t be the first, and she is certainly not the last while we all tread water in these difficult economic times.