Yesterday we drove up to Hudson early and got there by noon. The 80 mile drive north into Columbia County is about 34 miles from Albany, and about an hour and 10 minute drive. No traffic or congestion, pretty much 65 MPH in a 55 zone and passing many State Troopers.
Our early arrival allowed for us to tour around Warren Street. I unexpectedly bought a cool shirt and a black Cashmire Boc-A-La for that Ninja warmth. Very boutique. Both the shirt and head ware were made in the U.S. Kinda costly but not really mass produced or on the street you will see someone else wearing one.
At 2:30 we met up with Ala and Eugene. Ala was striking looking with light blond hair pulled back into a pony tail. From afar you could mistaken her as a pretty woman with delicate features and a shaved head that enhanced her femininity. She once was an Editor at GQ but is now retired, but the thing is that she was perhaps in her early 30’s. Don’t tell Maggie, but what a beauty.
Eugene identifies as a fashion journalist and once produced an independent print magazine. I would also say he is a cultural critic. We had very interesting elevated conversation in a restaurant that served delicious Italian food in tiny portions. We ate and talked taking in an early dinner.
The event at the Spotty Dog was at 6:30 PM. The Spotty Dog is a bar and a bookstore. How cool is that? We went to their apartment and continued our conversations.
At the Spotty Dog I met a woman who drove down from a town north of Saratoga. It was a nice turnout yet intimate.
The drive home was in darkness. The Taconic Parkway was like a long hilly driveway 60 miles long to Peekskill. I would hate the drive on a snowy day, but last night it was beautiful. The Audi A4 was made for roads like this, and coasting down hills and avoiding using any brakes was a nice balance that involved some high speeds on an open road.
Hudson is a City that we visited more than a year ago. Warren Street is a lot more developed, especially further east towards its beginning. A lot more shops and businesses, so many that we would have to go back and spend a day shopping.
I think Eugene and Ala intend on buying a home there. They are new refugees from Madhattan and only have inhabited Hudson for about 6 months.
A very rich and full day. As rich and full as any far away vacation, yet only about 80 miles drive away. Hudson is a place where the shops are only open on the weekends now, but in the tourist season the shops will stay open. The bars and restaurants are elevated, high ended, and lux.
Mucho artists…
Maggie asked if I had to choose between Woodstock and Hudson, which would I choose.
“Depends,” I said. If we had the money for a rural vacation home I would pick Woodstock for the retro hippy vibe. This meaning keeping our Peekskill home.
If we had to sell our Peekskill home then Hudson would be a nice replacement.
Across the river is a town called Catskill where you could buy a summer cottage for $99K. Hmmm. A local told us that the town closes early though, but Hudson is just across the Van Winkle Bridge. This is a viable idea to have Peekskill as a home base and a vacation cottage. Hmmm.
Not a bad life, still would have easy access to the city and great health care. Like I said, the best of both worlds.
Right now I’m living on only one pension and savings. Basically my retirement income is low, but in a little more than 3 years I’ll be 70 collecting Social Security and maybe my Grumman pension. I could afford to buy a modest vacation home.
Hmmm. Pretty much would be situated in the best of both worlds. This is the payoff for living below my means for decades and planning.
Cal
