"Old Man / California"

We met Linnea and Tracy at the Natural Bridges Viewpoint on the Oregon Coast. They were standing side by side on the wooden platform overlooking the sea when we crossed paths, stopping to admire the beautiful view before heading out for a short hike. The conversation began with a compliment to Linnea's dog, Numi—a shy rescue mutt she had adopted, name and all, from the Humane Society.

Despite seeming like longtime friends, we soon learned that Linnea and Tracy had only met that day! Tracy was visiting Brookings, Oregon from Kauai, Hawaii where she's lived for the past 20 years after moving there post-retirement to be with her best friend. She was touring a home next door to Linnea's, hoping to leave the noise of Kauai behind for something quieter. Linnea had taken it upon herself to give Tracy the unofficial tour of Brookings, hoping she might become her future next-door neighbor. As we stood looking out at the ocean together, the conversation turned to music and the songs that reminded the two of where they journeyed from.

Linnea chose "Old Man" by Neil Young. She first heard it when she was 11 or 12, during road trips from San Pedro, Los Angeles up to Mammoth. Her life has moved all over California: through college at SDSU and UCLA, marriage and divorce, and a string of unexpected career turns. Linnea started as an interior designer for 10 years before becoming a farrier, shoeing horses, and finally following in her fathers footsteps as a longshoreman, loading and unloading ships at the ports of LA and Long Beach. Now, after a lifetime of reinvention, Linnea has found a quieter rhythm in Brookings—retired, grounded, and content with her rescue dog Numi by her side.

Tracy picked "California" by Joni Mitchell. Raised in Half Moon Bay, she was immersed in music from a young age—thanks in part to her older brother Bob's messy room and amazing record collection, which she'd play while being stuck with cleaning duty. Somewhere between the clutter one day, she discovered Joni Mitchell and never looked back. She knew every song, could play them all on guitar, and even hummed a few bars of "California" while telling us about it. She worked for years as a swim instructor around San Mateo before moving to Kauai with her husband, where she now rents out bikes to visitors. Tracy is 63, full of stories, and ready for her next chapter… perhaps right next door to Linnea.