"How about this sunny day?" I was asked by a friend while visiting the Bay Area.
This was followed by a friendly nudge as he opened his arms and shrugged his shoulders toward the sky. Then he told me how he could never live anywhere else, especially the East Coast.
"Why not?" I ask
"It's the weather."
I like good weather sure, but my life doesn't depend on it. And I don't like every day to be the same.
In California, life often feels like the movie "Groundhog Day." Sure, the sky is pretty, but it's diminished by the slowness and sense of repetition. Some see the constant nice weather as the answer to all life's problems. I see numbness, denial and fake smiles in the sunshine.
In the major cities of the East Coast, there such a vast amount of activity and stimulation taking place at any given time, that it's rare to fall into the lazy 'funk' one feels in the Bay Area. This is especially true in New York, where takes less time to get from point A to point B, stores and restaurants stay open late, public transportation is affordable and runs all night and bars and music clubs stay open most of the night. As result, it's easier to get things done, it's more fun and I feel inspired here, regardless of the weather.
A nice day in New York doesn't happen as often, but it means something. Sure, we deal with blizzards, bone chilling cold, overcast skies, tropical humidity and all points in between. But out of nowhere, we'll get a crisp blue sky, nice temperature, and a golden sun. Suddenly everyone is out in the parks, reading, tossing a ball, rollerblading and hanging out. And it feels like something special, not just a typical day. The rest of the time everyone is working hard and playing hard.
Whenever I'm back in the Bay Area, I'm stuck by how many folks I run into whose personalities haven't changed one bit. Comedian Rob Schneider, who grew up the Bay Area, rose to fame on TV's Saturday Night Live playing a character that reminds me of some of the people I grew up with, most of whom still talk like that.
I can hear them now: "What up Al? The Al-man. Big A. Playin' the guitar. Ner ner ner ner" (Picture the last part accompanied by an impromptu 'air guitar' performance). Despite most of these guys now approaching middle age, they act like they're still in high school. I'm convinced it's partly because of the weather.
My theory is this: a clear changing of the seasons is a loud reminder that time is passing. On the East, we go through a cold, snowy Winter, a hot Summer, and the joyful balance of Spring and Fall in between. When it is all said and done, and before the cycle repeats, there is no question that another year has gone by. This is natures way of motivating you to grow up, set personal goals and move forward with your life.
Out West, every day feels roughly the same, you have less awareness that the months are turning into years and life is drifting by you like the San Francisco fog. I'm not saying there aren't any underachievers on the East Coast or that there aren't goal oriented folks out West. I'm just saying that, from my viewpoint, there are far too many in the Bay Area who'd better wake up and smell the Peet's Coffee before it's too late.
PS I should point out that Peets, a Berkeley institution since the 60's, is still my favorite coffee.
18 comments:
Hey Alex, another great blog. I agree with you about the weather in this area. Your last two paragraphs about how the weather psychologically affects the people that live within its range. But you know, the weather here is not the best. I mean, I wish it was a little hotter up here because I do not really like the cold. I mean one of the many reasons I want to move west is because of how shitty the weather is. Look at all the rain that has been happening this past month, it was sure a damper on my friends and I's plans. I love the New York area, but I just think that it is really not the place for me. I would really love to go to an area like the Bay Area, but the way you describe it makes it sound like they are way too lazy for my taste. Your blogs are always very interesting reads, keep it up. By the way Alex, what have you been reading as of now?
-Nick
Bonjour Alex,
Again, thank you for sharing this blog with us. And again, I can relate to it in many ways. Being from Montreal, I totally understand the weather being a big part of your preferring the east coast to the west. I could not live somewhere where there is no change of season (by the way, you don’t know cold if you haven’t been to Montreal at -40 C). Anyway, I am not just saying this because I don’t know anything else, but like you, I have lived for almost two years somewhere where the weather is practically always the same. I am not a huge fan of winter, but after living there I realized how much the change of season was important to me. From the first snow to the blizzards and the excruciating cold, to the melting of the snow, the first flowers, the birds coming back from the south to the hot summer (too short for my taste) to the colorful trees and back again to the first snow. I’m not as poetic as you, but I’m sure you get the picture.
Take care, mon ami.
Carole
Me again...
About the weather, it is so unpredictable, even the weather channel cannot get it right 99% of the time. It was supposed to be sunny on my wedding day and it ended up being rainy, 13 years ago, today… But, as you so nicely put it, we do not let it get to us and make the best of it. That’s what we did ;)
C
In a minor scale, I note this when I talk with old friends, friends that live in my old district... old habits, and the time almost don´t pass. It´s possible imagine now, sitting and talking about the same things...
"do you dont have idea to move to another district, with more bus,fun, new peoples, new things?" "no" they response, "here, I have all!" - I think that this is a basic idea of your part II: they have "all" but the your "all" is very different.
The experience say me, that when you "know all" or "have all", you stop, if you dont have anything to learn, you stop. So... what this peoples have to learn ? nothing, they knows all: know when be sun, when be rain, know where to sell bread,where to sell beer, and at last, when they want a new friend: to buy a dog! hahaha...
PS: Carole: I have one friend living in Montreal, he say me that dont go out home without see Weather Channel first! :)
It isn't just the Bay area that is effected by unchanging personalities. When I go back to visit family and friends in Denver, they sound like they did when I left 13 years ago. It's like they have no concept of time passing. And not everyday is blissfully sunny. It even happens where I live now. I think because people get stuck into routines they just don't realize the time going by. Of course a lot of people like it that way, like MR said they feel like they have it all.
People stay as unchanged as they decide to, regardless of their surroundings. Travel and exposure to places can offer different perspectives. Not everyone can afford to travel or wants to venture beyond the backyard. Sad. Then read or go to the movies set in different places and open up to the big full world that connects us. Alex, if you can buy Peets in NYC, you should have some Brooklyn-based - Jacques Torres chocolates to go with. Bon Jour friends -
Hi Alex,
I live in NJ and I love the weather here.. I love the change of seasons..
Summer.. Is nice with the beach so close but the humidy.. yuck and talk about bad hair days LOL
Spring.. always reminds me of a new beginning. Grass grows, flowers bloom, and the smell of fresh rain is so nice on a somewhat warm day..
Fall... I love the sounds of crisps leaves under my feet when I am walking and it's nice to throw on a sweatshirt or a sweater and walk through the park and see the trees change colors.. Some of them are breathtaking.
But my favorite season is Winter. Yes I know I am crazy.. But I love snow :)
I love bundling up in a nice warm sweater and going for my walk in it or sitting home wrapped in a nice warm bathrope watching the snow fall, and there are absolutely no BAD HAIR DAYS LOL
Plus working in a school there is always that hope of a SNOW DAY!!!!
Four seasons..
Four great reason to live in NJ
Currently living in Florida and have been for a few years I yearned to move here because I could not take the dreary, cold, sunniless skies for days, and days on end in New Jersey. While I love the sunny weather and free and fun winters here, the reality is that I miss fall. It is my favorite season as I loved the leaves turn from a vibrant green, to a yellow and then red (which was my favorite finding on the trees). You do know at this point Halloween is headed full speed ahead and shortly thereafter, the holidays. The time seems to have passed quicker here in Florida as I don't realize the change of seasons so apparently. Before I know it, its Christmas and it is still 70 degrees. Sometimes it's disappointing to me as I have vivid memories of snow days off of school and the beautiful iced trees when I looked out the windows in the morning as the snow had just fallen. I miss that. We do have a change of seasons on the gulf coast, just not as extreme as elsewhere in the country. I think as you get older time just seems to pass quicker and quicker. The seasons fly by effortlessly, and goals are tougher to attain as everything has become too "instantaneous" and everyone want's everything NOW!. Well, back to staying cool in the crazy HOT Florida weather right now. Be happy if you are up north. It's brutal here these past few days...global warming?
Hola Alex,
You always have awesome blogs to read. I've been in NY when it's bone chilling cold & I am not a fan of that. The weather in the Bay Area is pretty awesome not too hot or too cold. It gets hot here in the summer, but not like humid NY. I've been there when it's hot as hell, not cool.
Our weather is great, but that's not the reason why I live here. The Bay Area isn't a bad place. There is always something to do & there is nothing lazy about it. I have always had a great time here, if you go out somewhere with the mentality that something sucks or it's boring, you are probably going to have a shitty time.
The Bay Area could never compare to NY, but it is beautiful here. Great bands play here all the time! I just saw you play two weeks ago at the Fillmore & that place is legendary like many others in the Bay Area.
I am glad that NY has made you happy, but don't knock down a place you lived in for so many years. The Bay Area is gorgeous & I have always been happy here.
Best wishes to you & I have always enjoyed reading your blogs.
~Elisabeth ;)
It's a good point to look at changing seasons like that. I really like that. But there is one season you didn't mention. What about New England's Indian Summer when the leafs are taking on colors no Californian hippie could ever imagine on the worst of drug trips and with temperatures in the 70s and 80s when it's just 4-6 more weeks until Thanksgiving.
By the way, ever tried Rao's Coffee in Amherst, MA? That's my favorite coffee place I've encountered in the US.
Greetings from Germany
Hey there!
Just wanted to say that I found parts one and two of "Bay Area Blues" to be quite interesting. I found out about your blog through HardTimes.ca's interview with you and one of your band-mates (remembering names is not my strong point), and I'll continue to read your work. I actually watched a couple of interviews to show under the news section of Metal Underground, which is a small and humble but fairly popular heavy metal website (I'm a writer on the site). It's also an interesting coincidence that your blog has the same template as mine. haha. And it's funny - though I write for the site and have seen Testament appear so many times under our news, I've never listened to Testament before.
- Flora
I definitely agree on the weather thing. I've never seen all four seasons in another state. I've really only experienced summer in other states. But as far as Michigan (even though our four seasons are horribly lop-sided with winter taking up the majority of the time) the summers are short.. but beautiful, despite the raging heat/humidity, storms, frost and whatever other intangible gets thrown in the mix. And it is a wake up call...
my new years is around Fall.. I've always liked it for whatever reason, I do a lot of self reflecting.. hard work and planning in the winter and in the summer it's sort of like play time.
Enough of my rambling, but I do agree. I have a cousin out west and she's a prime example of what you're talking about.
M
Your theory sounds fun and a tad specious. Specious unless you’re speaking for yourself. Otherwise, I wonder how you’d go about proving that theory. Alex, know any sociologists? ;-)
Alex,
Great post. I agree with you about the weather on the East Coast. Although I live in NC and we don't get the extremes (extreme cold and tropical humid hot)we do have the gradual season changes. Time seems to move faster and more regular with some form of change in the season. I have never been out west so I don't really have any experience to compare it to, but I like it just fine here in the east.
Take care,
Belinda
Interesting theory, Al. You may have something. Perhaps save it for your PhD dissertation. :)
BTW, Peet's coffee is battery acid. I drink it for the jolt only. The best coffee shop I've found here in S.F. is in Mountain View, right near a clutch of bookstores on Castro St. Don't remember the name. But hey, on Monday it's metal night. I haven't gone due to work.
Enjoyed both posts about bay.
I have like yourself grew up here and then moved to East coast, Seattle , Santa fe NM
I am back here because I needed to connect with my Family.
I have always felt different then my fellow Bay area types.
Everyone always thought I was from the east coast or Europe
I do think as far as music goes this area is sad
I am in a Metal Band and there are less and less venues to play every year. People tend to be very jaded and are too good to explore new music live. L.A is much more fun to play.
I loved the seasons... Santa Fe in the winter was incredible
I lived in Rhode Island and rode my bicycle in snow storms very fun.
you are very lucky to have found your place , I am still searching
Mel
Alex,
I'm not too sure I agree with the idea of weather affecting people psychologically to make them goal oriented or not. I've lived here in the NY/metropolitan area for 39 of my 41 years and the only thing I see is there are people that yearn to make the most of their lives and those that think they need not exert any undue effort. I see those that are "content" use any excuse not to move out of their comfort zone; the weather, effort, cost, you name it. What you did was a very brave thing; you knew that you had to go somewhere else and kind of start over to grow as a person and do things other people said were stupid or unnecessary. Most people are afraid to do those kinds of things. This is the way humans grow; by rising up to challenges; be they ones we make for ourselves or ones imposed by us through outside forces. Otherwise we stagnate and just stay "teenagers" forever.
On a personal note; I love each season for what it is and enjoy the cycle. There are perfect winter, spring, summer and fall days; each day is magnificent if you are doing what you were meant to do. The most perfect day can be hell if you are otherwise unfulfilled.
Glad a lot of you can relate. These are my experiences, I expect some differing views, but it's nice to know when one isn't alone. I know the thing with not relating to people from one's old neighborhood happens all over. Rachiel mentioned Denver - I've heard that from others there as well. I think in general, people get afraid of change and they crawl into a space of denial and unnecessary comfort. The weather is just one of the many excuses as Nancy points out. BTW, Nick, currently reading "Fanny" by Erica Jong, "Songbook" by Nick Hornby and recently finished "Look Homeward Angel" by Thomas Wolf.
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