Letters to the Editor
-
Stay
I agree with zzigurrat, the the Geographical Cure doesn't work. LW sounds like she is just suffering a little ennui, and that is all. All of the 10 or so people I know who left California left because of a job or academic opportunity, family reasons, or an actual interest in a specific place that was a little more specific that simply the "midwest." All of the 10 people I know who have had sojourns in California went there for the same reasons.
It's a sign of your prejudice that you could think of the "midwest" as some monolithic thing. Despite the homogenization of our national culture, we still have a couple differences. The city I live in has different neighborhoods, and within those neighborhoods are different blocks, and on those blocks, some houses are better than others. People here suffer from ennui sometimes too.
Just pick one place and take a vacation there for a week.
-
||
|| ||
text
-
x
are you happy now? i personally have known many people who do not have emotive lives. particularly in the eastern united states. we need your cooperation.... i believe was said earlier. indeed.
-
Move to Austin
All the good parts of California for a quarter the price and minus the bad parts.
True, you are in Texas, but people live for decades in contented bliss in the city, ignoring the red state beyond.
Austin is consistently voted one of the most desirable and livable cities in the USA. Good communities with people who watch out for each other, more arts and culture organizations per capita than anywhere but Santa Fe, a nice semi-dry climate, its very own homegrown vibe, universities up the kazoo, great nature, a good scale, a real foodie culture, good ol' centrist lib politics (as opposed to the extremist crap like lefty Berkeley or rightie OC).
The city is growing faster than any place in the SW but Vegas and Phoenix, and who really WANTS to live in either of those godforsaken hellholes?
Come here, and invite all your Cali friends. I want to sell my house and move out of this doomed country.
-
Well no wonder you want to move -- you live in Orange Freaking County
Orange County is the unwashed armpit of Southern California. Especially Irvine, Anaheim and Fullerton.
Try the Bay Area. Or San Diego. Or one of the nice coastal cities between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Sure, you can't afford a house there! But you get to live near where dirt meets water!
Actually I had a dream about moving inland last night. It was more of a nightmare, but that's only because I was moving back to my old town, a place where I'd built many of my worst and most painful memories.
Just keep in mind that if you move, you'll be exchanging one kind of problem for another. You'll be out of earthquake zone and into tornado zone. You'll be away from misinformed hippies and coastal meth heads, but nearer to uneducated racists and...inland meth heads.
That said, you will be able to afford a house -- especially if you built your nest egg while in California. Salaries are lower in many inland states.
-
More on Austin
Our great city has spawned the likes of greats Molly Ivins, Alex Jones, Ann Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mike Judge, Richard Linklater, Richard Garriott, Robert Rodriguez, Janis Joplin, Leslie (c'mon, he HAS to be on the list),
Many others call here home-- Matthew McConnaughy, Sandra Bullock, supposedly George Clooney soon (still trying to verify this one, especially since it is supposed to be in my neighborhood), Owen Wilson, Willie Nelson,
Many great things have come out of here-- SXSW, Austin City Limits, Dell, we virtually BREATHE and invented shabby chic, Chuys, Alamo Draft House Movie Theaters, Whole Foods,
- More free wifi places than any place I have been in the states INCLUDING the Bay Area
- Tons of neat coffee houses, homegrown boutiques
- A thriving gay community
- Tons of access to some of the most established nearly year round organic farming in the US thru three major farmers markets
- Ample natural and organic food restaurants
- Hike and bike trails to die for minutes from downtown
- Scads of the most esoteric video rental places, LA film buffs' jaws drop
- Speaking of LA, guys coming into town are awestruck by the beauty of the women here compared to LA (of all places).
- Not one, not two, but THREE world class old-school independent toy stores
- One of the largest (formerly THe largest) independent bookstores in the US, Book People
- Any night of the week, dozens to hundreds of bands play, most for free at myriad venues all over the city.
- The Hill Country, some of the most beautiful countryside in the whole lower 48 lies to the west of Austin and down to San Antonio
Libertarianism, Buddhism, Atheism, Zoroastrianism, ping pong champions-- all have ample representation in this great city.
You can still get a house for $75 to $100 per square foot not too far from downtown. Show me where you can get this in California.
Bumper sticker of some years ago: "On Earth as it is in Austin"
More recently: "Keep Austin Weird"
-
Oh, and one of the last impediments has been breached
someone alluded to good pizza places.
Yes, Austin had crap for pizza for decades (yes you, Brick Oven and Gatti's). But just in the past two years, a dam has been breached and now there are 6-8 wonderful pizza places, each great in its unique way.
Saccones- been here forever, but I just found it, REAL Jersey style thin crust.
East Side Pies- former bread chef making cracker thin pies, interesting, but the toppings are what make it along with the quality of the ingredients. Almost New Haven style (Sally's, Pepe's) in its approach.
Mandolas- A Houston (!) import. Very good and authentic though sometimes a bit greasy.
Southside Flying Pizza- More typical suburban New England type pies.
The Parlor- Thicker crust, more Sicilian as opposed to Chicago style. Tasty toppings, real cheese (as are all of these places).
Home Slice Pizza- new on South Congress, they are trying hard to be East Coast authentic, so much as even taking a group trip to East Coast pizza shrines to learn new tricks. It actually is very good pizza.
Rounders Pizza- been here a while. Dependable and tasty
Vespaio Enoteca- High end delicious Italian traditional thin crust pizza. The bistro (as opposed to the white tablecloth) storefront is not too expensive. Can't wait to go back soon.
Mangia- Not my cup of tea, but a more neo-California take on pizza with whole wheat crusts, etc. Supposedly a serviceable Chicago style pie too.
That's the pie update from Austin (still looking for good pizza, in vain, in Houston)