Following brunch, we roamed the grounds and pretended to be guests. We passed our villa, we passed a retired celeb's villa, we practiced our golf swing and showcased our casual chess skill. We discovered hammocks and almost did not leave.
We only left for the promise of a pool and the Ace Hotel welcomed us in without ordeal or cost and we scored poolside chairs and ordered drinks with a kick. We met the sun for the first time in many months because San Francisco stays pretty grey and we took in the view of a cerulean pool set in the palm-ridden desert set against a mountainous backdrop that featured snow-kissed peaks. We were poolside in January, but the dry air and the hot tub kept us warm.
We reluctantly left for the grocery store and then our little rented house in town. In one day, we made ourselves quite at home in three separate settings, and I think given the chance, we could all stay longer and be truly happy here.











