I used to think I was overly sentimental. Then I looked up sentimental. Then I looked up nostalgic. Then I realized I was not overly sentimental. Then I realized I was overly nostalgic.
Like during the past week. I was overly nostalgic about moving out of Northern California. Or maybe it was appropriately nostalgic. I don’t know. I was even feeling nostalgic for the peninsula, a place I never liked. But, suddenly I realized I had done pretty much everything a man could ask for there.
Goodbye parking lot where I got a blowjob from a 19 year old.
Goodbye BJ’s restaurant that I got kicked out of for barfing in.
Goodbye apartment complex of woman seven years my senior that I had an affair with.
Anyways, two days ago I packed up in San Mateo. Then I drove down to Long Beach. Then I moved in.
People ask me why I moved to Southern California. I tell them, “Because there are more writing opportunities there.” But actually that is not the answer. That is a rationalization that can be compacted into a 30 second conversational opener. And these days usually the conversational opener serves as the conversational closer. People are so busy doing important things like not jumping off a bridge after losing 60% of their personal assets.
But the real answer I just like it here. And I feel like I fit in better.
But if I say that, then people want to know what I like about it and why I fit in better and I don’t really have a concrete answer. But maybe I can answer you. Maybe I can show you. And maybe that’s what this blog is for.
But part of it is ego. I have one. I admit it. Most of my humor is making fun of my ego. I’m not proud of my ego, but I just try to work with it. In Northern California they say that people down here have huge egos, and maybe they’re right. The thing is though, down here that’s considered OK. It’s OK to be into yourself and think you are great. People are more up front about their ego. In Northern California people have huge egos too, but they pretend like they don’t have one at all. It’s funny. They pretend like they are in a state of selfless bliss driving their Toyota Prius from a compost bin to a fair-trade purchase. The epicenter of that attitude is San Francisco.
And that’s part of the reason I moved down here.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Allen // Jun 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Is the beach there actually long? Just wondering. Enjoy the fuck out of it. I know you will.
2 Jon // Jul 2, 2009 at 7:57 am
You are in SoCal now, you can’t use words like “hella”
3 ramona // Jul 2, 2009 at 8:11 pm
leaving the bay area behind? can it be done? either way you’re getting closer to bukowski’s old stomping ground.
good luck.
4 Bowman // Jul 5, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Allen – The beach here is actually long. And dirty.
Jon – Thank you for noticing the irony.
ramona – Bukowski. Bukowski. Bukowski. All anyone mentions to me these days is Bukowski. And that’s great since I love Bukowski. I actually plan on touring said stomping ground. It’s not too far away from Long Beach. Supposedly you can even visit his grave. You know, I think I’ll go do that today. Fuck it. Thank you Ramona.
P.S. I’ll miss supposedly living near you even though we’ve never met.
5 thebaglady // Jul 7, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I know what you mean about the ego thing. In SoCal they totally flaunt it and it’s generally accepted. Over here in NorCal you have freaking millionaires that look pretty down to earth until they pull out their car that’s worth more than your house and drive like a jackass. (Think Purnendu) Of course, people in SoCal drive like jackasses, too, but according to the hubby they are more skilled at driving like jackasses and leave less debris on the highway.
Also in terms of wealth, I think people on the Peninsula are actually richer than people in SoCal, and that makes it harder for normal folks to actually afford to live here. In SoCal our house costs less than our rent and is more than twice the size of our condo here in San Mateo. So generally you can afford more quality of life down there.
6 Bowman // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:47 pm
thebaglady – Thank you for your very detailed commentary.
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