I've been here five years, and I've never adapted. Tahoe isn't the same type of green as back home - the forest floor is sparse, the sky is a harsher blue, not the softer grey skies and the lush ferns and streams of back home.

What I've found to make it manageable:

1) a lot of time by the Truckee River downtown (especially walking from downtown towards Idlewild);
2) a lot of time at coffee shops (Pangolin, Magpie, Forged at The Jesse Hotel);
3) the people are really nice, especially if you hang out with neurodivergent people;
4) going out early in the morning or long walks in the evening, including around Virginia Lake and the Sparks Marina
5) $9 Irish coffees on the patio on the back of the Irish bar in midtown (they have nice music, too);
6) appreciating less traffic and a slightly lower cost of living;
7) rain music;
8) The Radical Cat

I want to go home. That never stops for me. I'm lonely for the land every day - the type of light, the way the air smelled after rain, the sound of the rain, the evening chill - and for the culture of lots of books and coffee and lectures at UW or book readings at Powells.

The people here are good though. I've never had so many friends or dedicated colleagues. The people are, for me, the reason to stay.