Fat, Black, Gay, Grey, in no particular order…
As I peered over the top of this news rag I saw the hustle and bustle of Pasadena on the brim of a weekend night. The crowd was getting bigger and people from all walks of life would soon fill the sidewalks. Fat People. Gay People. Not Gay People. Black People. Jewish People. Ho People. Player People. Muslim People. Rich People. Illegal People. Tourist People.
I love being immersed in such a brew of mixed up people. That is one of the things I love about living in So Cal. The culture reeks of authenticity. Take this news rag for instance. The top left story line was an article on “Girls Gone Border Patrol” About teenagers helping in tracking down illegals. On the same page rests an article on why straight men have a hidden desire to be gay. Not for the sex. But for the lifestyle of freedom. Why would I read such basura? Because our world is falling faster than I can sing. And there is no place better to be surrounded by them than So Cal. I still cling to my redneck roots, but I am proud to be an Angelino. Well. I guess more a Riversidino. 50 milesino from Angelino.
What do you LOVE about where you live?
RAIN IT DOWN
SoCal, where else? ….
for many of the same reasons you discussed, but also for its proximity to the coast, to the desert, the mountains, L.A., Anaheim (Disney, Angels), Sandals Church……
For the fusion of American and Mexican culture (and food!)……
For the mostly cool and arid climate – though lately you can’t tell.
I won’t live anywhere but here as long as I have the choice. Every once in a while I’ll miss Savannah, Georgia (it has culture, rich history, southern charm, [gasp .....] seasons!, it’s beautiful) which would be my second choice, …… but it’s not even a remotely close second choice.
Dang, is that old town pas? that has to be one of my favorite places. Oh wait, you meant what do I like about where I live? It’s texas. that’s answer enuff…
Oh snap. I love old town Pasadena. Good times. But what is awesome here in Kansas is how people do that wave thing over the steering wheel when you are on a back road. Like you are kicking up dirt going no where and this farmer is going nowhere with his hay in the back of his truck going the other way and it is just nice to say hi through the windshield.
Kristi, happens where I’m at, too. I keep talking about getting out of this town some day, but it’s a good place to raise kids. Reasonably safe, lots of activities going on, plenty of opportunities to get involved. I may or may not lock the front door during the day.
Culturally, there is a strong native American heritage, as well as a Mexican population whose influence is growing. Also, proximity to the Columbia River and mountains, so that there is plenty of outdoor things going on as well.
I complain about it here sometime, but it’s home to me.
Dorothy, welcome to kansas,
We get to complain about the weather. It will be 112 today with humidity nearly as high. In the winter we get snow like no other, we try to remember what 112 was like. Trees become coated with ice and break under the pressure. It is the land of extremes. And as Kristi said, people are real friendly. Love being near KSU and college students, I ahve met people from all over the world.
As for my own home, I love playing music as loudly as I can. No real neighbors and lots of peace and quiet, when we are not cranking out the noise.
Overall, it’s great in the armpit of America.
RIVERSIDE!!!!!
Well, I have lived in Lake Forest my whole life…yes I am 35 and now (for the past 10 years)live 5 houses down from the house I grew up in, where my parents still live. I personally think the neighborhood is going down a little, but I enjoy living there. I didn’t know about Losiah…I hope I spelled that right! I am SO excited for your family!
I love your blog it makes me laugh, think and even be encouraged!
What do I LOVE about where I live? nothing!
We are looking to move… maybe we’ll become Angelinos, Riversidinos, or New Yorkinos.
SoCal is da bomb…and I hope God doesn’t ever call me elsewhere. I also love the mixing pot of different cultures. I love the surf nearby. I love that it doesn’t snow! But if I want snow I don’t have to drive too far. I love the extreme difference from one neighboring city to the next.
I’ll admit though, the two things I could do without: A little less smog wouldn’t be bad. The pace of life seems to be a bit too fast at times. I wonder if here in LA we don’t ever take enough time to really take things in and enjoy our relationships.
The surf Eastgate
wandered over here from dustin’s blog… (not so sure i should disclose that – ha!
anyway…. not loving anything about where i live right now… because we’re in “the middle”… we were in tallahassee until i had a friend from 20 years ago come back into my life and pretty much wreck it! (in a good way). that was four months ago, and now we are joining up with my friend and her husband to partner with them in whatever God wants to do with us – in hawaii!! i know, sounds glam, but it is pretty much, from what i hear, the most impossible place to live – cost of living wise, trying to find a place to live, and the list goes on. our friends left sunday and are there now – with nothing. we have sold all of our possessions and are now just waiting for our house to sell in order to join them. so for now, we wait. it is cool though, we get to wait in p.c. (with dustin and eastgate folks)… they are SO very encouraging. but frustrating none the less to be in this middle place.
what was your original question again?? ha!
p.s. we did get to visit our friends in san francisco before they left, and that place is A-MAZING!! i was hoping God made a mistake and would let us go there instead…. i could see myself growing old there – talk about a place filled with culture, diversity – what a melting pot of people.
p.s.s. now i feel so rude and weird… this is my first comment and i think it’s longer than your original blog….
I’m a so.cal. girl at heart…I love the ocean. I love that I can wear flip-flops year-round and the only pair of shoes I own are my nikes…to run of course. I love beach cities, and the culture that accompanies them. I love sunshine….I hate rain…here is where I have the most of the former and the least of the latter. I love being able to eat mexican, italian and chinese all in one day, and probably at the same sopping center.
Oh, and of course there’s Disneyland, CBU, and Sandals…all my home-away-from-homes.