So lately I've been disenchanted with life in general... Most of my friends live in Calgary, which is a good 10 hours driving, most of my time is spent on the computer because my budget was ruined when I lost my job (I got a new job roughly 12 hours after I got laid off... but the money isn't as good)
I let my membership here lapse, due to a combination of finances, and not being involved in the site much over the first 15 months I was here - but then I realized, this could be an outlet... if I'm spending so little time out doing things, at least I have a place full of good and interesting folks to post with in forums, gorgeous photography to enjoy, and maybe some friends to make.
Life is never all bad - there are just moments that make it feel that way. I love life, I love this city, and I love everything around here... except maybe the corner of Hastings and Main, but hey - the freakazoids love it here too (in Vancouver I mean)... for one thing, they're not likely to freeze to death when they fail to find shelter.
Last night I was standing outside a 7/11 smoking (I fell back on that wagon after I got laid off) and chatted with a homeless guy for a while. He was pretty friendly, talkative, and seemed genuine. He was also panning in the wrong place (slow neighborhood in East Van, far from bars and action and excitement). In Calgary I knew panhandlers who made hundreds every night - he said he makes an average of 20 a day... not sure if he was lying, but based on where he was standing... it wouldn't surprise me.
A couple weeks ago I met some super people in Seattle (friends of a friend) who turned out to be displaced Calgarians... they're dual citizens, and the pull of Seattle was great apparently. They did 2 things for me... showed me one hell of a cool part of the city, which I'd never seen, and passed on a wicked cold, which I've decided should be christened "The Seattle Plague", because it damn near killed me.
Over the past few months, I've explored Seattle, Bellingham and parts of Vancouver - Bellingham has possibly the best selection of used books in the world, Vancouver is one of the most amazing cities on earth, and Seattle is just downright cool - if I was ever going to live in the US, that would be my first choice of places.
Still alive and kicking... and realizing that self pity is a waste of time.
I let my membership here lapse, due to a combination of finances, and not being involved in the site much over the first 15 months I was here - but then I realized, this could be an outlet... if I'm spending so little time out doing things, at least I have a place full of good and interesting folks to post with in forums, gorgeous photography to enjoy, and maybe some friends to make.
Life is never all bad - there are just moments that make it feel that way. I love life, I love this city, and I love everything around here... except maybe the corner of Hastings and Main, but hey - the freakazoids love it here too (in Vancouver I mean)... for one thing, they're not likely to freeze to death when they fail to find shelter.
Last night I was standing outside a 7/11 smoking (I fell back on that wagon after I got laid off) and chatted with a homeless guy for a while. He was pretty friendly, talkative, and seemed genuine. He was also panning in the wrong place (slow neighborhood in East Van, far from bars and action and excitement). In Calgary I knew panhandlers who made hundreds every night - he said he makes an average of 20 a day... not sure if he was lying, but based on where he was standing... it wouldn't surprise me.
A couple weeks ago I met some super people in Seattle (friends of a friend) who turned out to be displaced Calgarians... they're dual citizens, and the pull of Seattle was great apparently. They did 2 things for me... showed me one hell of a cool part of the city, which I'd never seen, and passed on a wicked cold, which I've decided should be christened "The Seattle Plague", because it damn near killed me.
Over the past few months, I've explored Seattle, Bellingham and parts of Vancouver - Bellingham has possibly the best selection of used books in the world, Vancouver is one of the most amazing cities on earth, and Seattle is just downright cool - if I was ever going to live in the US, that would be my first choice of places.
Still alive and kicking... and realizing that self pity is a waste of time.