I think I’ve pretty much had my fill of winter. I mentioned to my mom on the phone last week how my family needs to either start having Xmas in the summer or come to my place, because after spending the better part of the last two months in New York (and prior in Philly) I’ve had enough cold weather and winter to last me a few years.
Now, a lot of people might say I have developed the thin blood of a west coaster. Not true. Cold doesn’t affect me as much as my roommates in Venice, but spending day in and day out in freezing temperatures does take its toll. Remember, I spent the first twenty-four years of my life living through bitter east coast winters, but I had enough sense to move away to warmer climates. It’s not that I’m weak; I just hate being cold. Hell, I will always love Philadelphia, it’s where I grew up, but I would never want to live there again.
Sadly, I feel a lot of the negativity I have towards winter has tainted my view of New York City. I almost have the same feeling like I do when I go to Vegas. Vegas is cool for about twelve hours and then I’m over it; leave me enough time to see a cool show and walk through a casino to take some colorful photos, and I’m good.
New York is a great city. I’m having a lot of fun here with a grip of really great friends. I’ve had a great opportunity to see a lot of the wonderful things this city has to offer. Alas (and this may be due to the winter), I’ve had my fill of the big city and I am ready to head back to the beach.
New York just isn’t a city for me. God bless all of you who live here; I’m not here to berate and put down you place of settlement. There are a few things, however, which make it hard for me to get comfortable.
First, obviously is the weather. Fuck winter.
Second, the lack of “friendliness” which is running rampant in this city, and all of the east coast for that matter (another reason I wouldn’t want to be in Philly again). Now, I’m not saying people aren’t friendly, I’ve met and know amazing people who reside here, but I’m talking on a grand scheme. People are trapped in their own world way too much. I get on the subway in the morning and everyone (including myself) has his or her ear buds in, listening to whatever podcast or Indian hip-hop album, which gets them up and at ‘em. Now, I’m not a morning person. I like to listen to my Adam Carolla on my way into work and not really speak to anyone, but you’d think if you saw the same person every morning, eventually you’d start saying hello. Nope. I see the same woman every morning, even run in to her at the gym, she sees me, recognizes me, but doesn’t acknowledge me.
A variation on this is something I noticed last Xmas while I was home in Philly. No one really goes to the bar alone. In Venice, I have a tendency to stroll to the pub myself when I feel parched, and make friends when I get there. Of course, now, I know a number of people in my neighborhood, so I have friends waiting when I arrive. Here though, it seems you can’t walk in, saddle up to an interesting person, and engage them in conversation without them either giving you a strange look or ignoring you. Again, nothing wrong with it. It’s been saving me money because when no one goes out, I stay in and stay warm.
I have a theory: I feel people on the west coast have a skewed view of people from the east coast. Every time you meet someone from the east coast out in LA, they are super nice and friendly. Then when they come to see the east coast, the locals are a lot of the time total dicks. It’s almost as if all of the nice east coasters got sick of all the impoliteness and got the hell away.
Which leads me to this story: I was running in Manhattan my second weekend here. I came to a section of the running trail which is really only wide enough for 2 people to pass, and in front of me there were two gentlemen, one walking one of those tiny little shit dogs. Now, normal politeness would suggest one of the gentlemen step aside and let me pass. Not in New York. Neither person changed their gait or position, leaving me to squeeze by sideways, only slightly slowing down due to the assumption one would give me room. After I accidentally bumped the man without the dog with my shoulder, he gave me a nasty look and “pfffft”ed me, like it was my fault. Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was rude to have to squeeze by you while you took up both halves of the sidewalk. My fault, next time, I’ll swerve into traffic praying I don’t get hit by the salt truck, just so you and the rat on a leash you call a dog can continue on with your day. Hey faggot, go home and fuck your dog with a rusty dildo.
It’s a total cliché, but there are a lot of rude people in this city. Again, a broad generalization, which does not include anyone I know, but the stereotype that New Yorkers are rude, rings true. There are rude people in LA, and trust me, I point it out to them, but here I feel they vastly outnumber the civil population.
I feel it is often inconvenient to do things in the city; getting out to do things always seems like a chore. You need to take two subways, then a bus, and take a cab home because you don’t want to be drunk on a subway at three in the morning. Or maybe you use a car service, which is nicer, but you’re still spending money. Now, in LA, I have a horrible habit of never leaving Venice. It happens to everyone and I’ve discussed this before so I’m not going into too my details.
In New York, there is a little deviation to this concept.
New York has a great public transportation system, in theory. Subways are always running, but your stuck next to a thousand other people sweating in your winter coat for thirty minutes before pouring back out onto the streets, now back soaked in sweat, fighting off the flu virus. If the subway doesn’t run, you’re screwed. You can pretty much find a cab anywhere if you wait five minutes, but there’s always that chance you get a cab driver who has no idea where he’s going and barely speaks English, so you’re using your iPhone to look up the directions and tell him where to go. I don’t know about you, but if I have to tell the cabbie how to take me home, that negates your tip.
The last reason I am ready to leave The Big Apple, is the buildings. I love cities, I love going downtown LA, I love walking through Time Square, SoHo where the Capital V office lives is great. I love walking around, but at this point, I feel almost boxed in, almost as if I haven’t seen the sun in decades. I have developed a slight case of claustrophobia since I’ve been here. Downtown LA is great, but I get to leave it and go back to the nice wide-open beach.
These are all personal preferences of mine. And don’t let my rants deceive you. There are a lot of positives to this city. Although subways are a little cramped, the availability of public transportation is awesome. Also, being the center of the world of commerce, New York is the most culturally diverse city I can think of, which makes for such a clash of ideas and ways of life it makes your head spin and proud to be part of such a melting pot.
I know plenty of people who are happy living here and can’t get enough of winter and snow, and love taking the subway every morning to work, but for my dollar, I’ll take the ground not making me slip and fall down. And traffic on the 10 freeway with my iPod blaring, windows down.
Home… Now that I’m coming home… Will you be the same as I saw you last… Tell me how much time has passed…
