For the record, the stories of driving in LA. are all true... it sucks! I got stuck in traffic for hours heading out east to visit family in Claremont last Wednesday. There is no way around it; you cannot drive between 2:30 pm and 7 pm. Damn I miss my bike! While there is something alluring about the car culture out here, there is no substitute for the joy of walking or running or cycling on a pretty day!
It occurs to me that part what makes life fuller and time pass slower is being present in your journey as much as possible. In a walking city like New York, part of one's daily adventure is the journey to a destination. Out here in L.A., you have to drive places, and thus, the adventure of life is simply the destination. Thoughts like these make me miss the ease of Greenwich Village.. As twisted as I see the neighborhood I grew up in these days, I would give anything to see a stoop around here once in awhile.
However, the ordeal was worth it as the town of Claremont is very cool. There are 7 colleges here, and a village that has been built to serve them. It has grown since last I was here, now containing a new cinema and new museum, and many new businesses including a Jamba Juice and even an American Apparel... I guess this town won't stay quaint for long!
Claremont also has a botanical gardens which I find to be a most peaceful and healing place. I make a point to head there each time I come to visit my aunt and uncle. If I ever moved out west, having a haven like this to come to in order to recharge my batteries would be a great blessing.
I spent the rest of the last week further West, in and around L.A., learning to surf down in Huntington Beach, chilling out in Venice, and seeing old and making new friends everywhere else. It seems that while everyone is worried about the job market out here, they carry their stress far different than people back east. In fact the L.A. Times had a cover story last week about all of the 20 and 30 somethings who have decided to use their severance and/or unemployment checks to take time off from the job hunt and enjoy life. People seem to always have smile on their face which is quite invigorating! I've been at the beach three days straight and I can't shake the smile on mine!
Unfortunately, my vacation/scouting trip is coming to an end tomorrow as I head back to good old New York City, the land that birthed me. But as I observe the rare lack of traffic on the streets due to the Lakers' championship run, I can't help but wonder why anyone would rather live on a river if they could live near the beach. The countdown to a move has already begun...
No comments:
Post a Comment