Back in LA, but wondering if I’ll stay . . .
I’m back in LA and while I’m delighted to be home, I already miss the Midwest. And it’s not just my family, particularly my niblings (nieces and nephews). Why is it that people here need to put on so much attitude? And why is it that, by and large, the people are just so much more decent to one another, at least on the surface, in Ohio?
It’s not that everyone here is snooty. I frequently encounter examples of extraordinary kindness even in LA.
When I graduated from high school, I was eager to get as far from Cincinnati as possible. And on this trip, I found the city oddly drawing me back. And it wasn’t just the presence of my family — or the cost of a decent-sized home. Or the traffic.
I think if I had a partner, one who would be willing to forsake LA, I’d seriously consider moving back. But, then there are moments when I discover the charms of the City of Angels, a person passionate about movies and ideas, an interesting street or building, the beauty of the sunset across the Pacific as its final rays darken the hills of the Palisades and Malibu.
As I told my classmates, many of the stereotypes are true about LA, the selfish, superficial people. But, that is only part of this city’s story. There are days when I truly love LA and see why this city has produced some truly outstanding movies and quality television. And other artistic achievements.
Whether I will stay much longer is now anybody’s guess. But I will note that when I was back in Cincinnati, I got together with one of the sweetest guys I ever dated. And he met his partner of seven years in the Queen City.
27 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I am in the Queen City of the North. Get the hell out of lala.
Comment by William — October 16, 2006 @ 10:51 pm - October 16, 2006
#1
I agree. Never lived futher west than Houston, TX. Never lived further north than Jackson, MS. and hope I never will.
Sure you got In N Out, but do you have Skyline?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — October 17, 2006 @ 1:21 am - October 17, 2006
I had Skyline on Saturday with some classmates.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — October 17, 2006 @ 1:35 am - October 17, 2006
#3
You strike me as the 3-Way type.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — October 17, 2006 @ 4:24 am - October 17, 2006
I have family in the Greater Cincinnati area-on the Kentucky side of the river, and we usually try to make a trip by Skyline when we go visiting.
I have never lived further West than the central Kentucky town I grew up in, but after being gone almost 20 years, there are times when I miss the area.
Comment by just me — October 17, 2006 @ 6:53 am - October 17, 2006
Mmmmm Skyline, and a nice UDF Malt.
John F in Indy
Comment by John F in Indy — October 17, 2006 @ 8:43 am - October 17, 2006
I’m more than eager to move back to the midwest, and not just because I go to work every day wondering if today is The Day al Qaeda will succeed in smuggling a nuke across our wide open southern border and detonating it in DC.
Comment by V the K — October 17, 2006 @ 9:10 am - October 17, 2006
VdaK, we need to get you some therapy… that’s close to delusional. Nawh on second thought, skip therapy, just wait ’til after the November elections… the Democrats are going to make all that terrorism angst go away. Poof… in a magical word called appeasement.
On your point, Dan, if shared values are important to you –you need to start looking for your lifelong partner and soulmate in the Midwest… Midwest men generally place a higher importance on values than any transplant or native from the West Coast. And if you need sunsets of breathtaking magnitude… travel to Michigan’s west coast and you’ll have all the wonderment of Nature at your feet.
But you knew that already.
Comment by Michigan-Matt — October 17, 2006 @ 9:36 am - October 17, 2006
Getting a little off-topic, but speaking of the border, I was talking with a consultant yesterday about DHS awarding the contract for the ‘Secure Border Initiative’ to Boeing. She was on one of the competing teams and provided me with two interesting pieces of INTEL.
1.) Boeing’s technological solution was rated the lowest of the competing teams, and did not meet the minimum requirements of the program
2.) DHS was politically pressured by the Bush Admin and Denny Hastert to award SBI to Boeing.
Comment by V the K — October 17, 2006 @ 12:56 pm - October 17, 2006
I met my partner of 14 years here in this city. I love my Puerto Rico and my New York but I don`t regret the day that I came to Los Angeles and the events that led me to the man of my life. By the way…..today is his birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPO!!! Te Quiero.
Comment by Henry — October 17, 2006 @ 1:38 pm - October 17, 2006
For the most part, I find the LA area too crowded and lacking in character. I don’t know many people there so I won’t stereotype them like #8 does. There are plenty of bozos and flakes everywhere including the Midwest where I lived for a number of years. But I wouldn’t consider moving back to the Midwest. Who wants 4-5 months of cold gray skies and cold gray slush each year? The southwest is great for those who want to enjoy the outdoors all year round. Even conservatives here are more tolerable since, with the exception of repub politicos, they tend to be more libertarian than the authoritarian type so common elsewhere.
Comment by Ian — October 17, 2006 @ 2:01 pm - October 17, 2006
LA is soooo 1990s. Even though I am a proud Houstonian, if Hubby and I had our druthers we’d be living in Florida. Give me the Atlantic coast over the Pacific any day.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — October 17, 2006 @ 4:14 pm - October 17, 2006
Get out of LA and move to Tampa/St Pete.
LA is interesting but way too unglued .
The other west coast is less expensive and pleasant .
And half of Ohio is here anyways from what I can tell !
Comment by bert — October 17, 2006 @ 9:23 pm - October 17, 2006
#8 – “Midwest men generally place a higher importance on values than any transplant or native from the West Coast.”
Excuse me? Could you back that up with data, Michigan-Matt? The crass stereotypes of Los Angeles and its citizens are no less offensive (to me, at least) than the crass stereotypes of gay men. I happen to be a native and I place a high importance on values, as do most of the native Angelenos I know. Scratch someone who is the epitome of the “phony, superficial airhead” Los Angeles stereotype and underneath you’ll usually find somebody who isn’t from here at all.
As for you, Dan, God love you but why the hell did you move to LA’s mecca of gay superficiality (West Hollywood) if you weren’t seeking that superficiality? There are many other communities in the LA area that aren’t “gay ghettos” where you’ll find actual real human beings of all stripes…with values!
Sorry to you all if I seem a little angry about the above comments. Usually this kind of crap rolls right off my back. But sometimes one needs to stand up and speak out. So Los Angeles isn’t for everyone. Do you really have to attack this city in order to feel good about where you do live? It seems to be an epidemic. On my last visit to New York City, I was shocked at how often people said, “I hate LA” when I mentioned where I was from. Isn’t that nice? I’d always counter with, “Really? I love New York” with just a subtle “Screw you,” tone to my voice. I DO love New York City. I don’t want to live there, but I don’t hate it…or any other place I’ve visited in the USA. So how about you all examine your inner prejudices and try to be a bit less intolerant when it comes to those who aren’t like you. Is that so much to ask?
Comment by Andre — October 18, 2006 @ 12:10 am - October 18, 2006
Even conservatives here are more tolerable since, with the exception of repub politicos, they tend to be more libertarian than the authoritarian type so common elsewhere.
So, in other words, you prefer people without guts or convictions.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — October 18, 2006 @ 12:39 am - October 18, 2006
Even though I am a proud Houstonian, if Hubby and I had our druthers we’d be living in Florida.
I’ll trade ya Houston for Lakeland.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — October 18, 2006 @ 12:40 am - October 18, 2006
Well Florida is certainly conservative, so you’d be right at home.
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 5:04 am - October 18, 2006
#17 – I take it you haven’t been to Wilton Manors lately. It is the most egregious example of Bush-hating I’ve ever seen. If it weren’t for Boom, Jackhammer and Harry’s Alibi, I’d be better off going somewhere else.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — October 18, 2006 @ 10:48 am - October 18, 2006
I take it you don’t live in Florida, and particularly not in Broward County. I do.
I said Florida, not Wilton Manors. Wilton Manors is one small enclave in a very large state (a sea of Republicans and conservatism…and religious zealots. We do afterall have that freak Kennedy minutes from my apartment).
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 11:58 am - October 18, 2006
Daniel, if you’d read my post above, I am a native Houstonian. Still live here – my only sojourn away was my 4-year matriculation at The University of Texas (talk about a blue dot in a red state – but I digress).
Frankly, I’ll take religious zealots over mind-numbed Bush haters any day. At least the Christian right will end their speech with “but God loves you anyway, dear.” Libtards will just scream you into submission.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — October 18, 2006 @ 12:55 pm - October 18, 2006
I did read it, but you were trying to imply that Florida is not conservative by referring to Wilton Manors, which is one very small place in a very big state.
Anyway, Broward County has both “libtards” and religious zealots.
As the population of Florida grows with the immigration of Hispanics and Latinos from the South and senior citizens from the North, Florida becomes even more gay-unfriendly and certainly more conservative…and religious.
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 1:55 pm - October 18, 2006
Sorry, I should have said that it seemed that you were trying to imply that.
Daniel
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 2:54 pm - October 18, 2006
“As the population of Florida grows with the immigration of Hispanics and Latinos from the South and senior citizens from the North, Florida becomes even more gay-unfriendly and certainly more conservative…and religious.”
So you’re saying, Daniel, that Cubans and seniors from blue states are more homphobic than redneck Southerners? Or are you implying that you are unconsciously a bigot by lumping the words “Latinos” and “gay-unfriendly” together? When did you stop being a racist?
Checkmate.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — October 18, 2006 @ 4:11 pm - October 18, 2006
No, what I am saying is:
“As the population of Florida grows with the immigration of Hispanics and Latinos from the South and senior citizens from the North, Florida becomes even more gay-unfriendly and certainly more conservative…and religious.”
If stating facts is now racist, then we’re in a whole lot of trouble.
Use as you wish.
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 4:36 pm - October 18, 2006
You are tiresome and I am finished responding to you.
Comment by DanielFTL — October 18, 2006 @ 4:39 pm - October 18, 2006
DanielFTL,
Just I said it would be.
I rest my case.
monty
Comment by monty — October 18, 2006 @ 7:10 pm - October 18, 2006
#24 – “If stating facts is now racist, then we’re in a whole lot of trouble.”
Welcome to our world, Daniel.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — October 18, 2006 @ 10:40 pm - October 18, 2006