New City, New Country, New Continent, New Hemisphere

On first impression, it's just like every other crowded, old coastal city. It has that humid, urban smell that New York gets in the heat of summer. There are people everywhere, with little retail establishments all crammed together on every block.

This is my first time to be south of the equator. It seems like it should feel different than it does. The water in our toilet doesn't go the other way around, it just goes straight down.

It does feel different being in South America. The birds are different. The trees are different. It's very green and lush.

And here we are in Rio de Janeiro. I'll bet there are few other places where extreme wealth and utter poverty coexist so visibly.

Clyde and I arrived in Brazil after an overnight flight from the U.S. The taxi ride to the J.W. Marriott was probably the most of the real city that we'll probably see. From the freeway, we saw slums (favelas) literally abutting luxury high rise apartments. Most of the apartment buildings that aren't slums still look a little run down. All residences, rich and poor, seem to have a satellite dish attached to the outside wall. There is graffiti everywhere.  The only perfectly pristine buildings are the churches.

Our hotel is just across the street from the beach. No favilas are visible from here. Our room overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and of course, has every comfort. It's almost easy to forget the nearby poverty when you're on the roof, 17 stories up, looking down at the coastline and all the incredible green mountains that pop out of the ocean.

We took a walk down the street to take a look at the  90 year old Copacabana Palace. After just a couple of blocks, we were so soaked that we needed a shower. Some Coloradoans have trouble adjusting to high humidity.

Tomorrow we meet up with our friends.Greetings from Brazil!

By the way, this is my 200th BillsWeek post. Wow, I've had a lot to say!

Open Up that Golden Gate – Maybe (Part 2)

Last week, I announced that I was seriously considering a move to Southern California. This week, I promised some pros and cons. On impulse, I created a survey and asked my Facebook friends to comment. This was not a scientific poll. But it also wasn’t a Fox News poll where every question was completely slanted towards a predetermined result.

I am impressed by the thoughtful responses to the survey. For the most part, folks seem happy where they live. Coloradoans in particular are passionate about their home. I was also touched at the amount of care expressed for me. I have some truly wonderful friends, coast to coast.

Here are some of the data from the survey:

• 63% of the respondents came from Colorado/Wyoming/Western Nebraska (in other words the “local” region); 16% came from the west coast; 5% came from Nebraska (east of the Panhandle), and 16% from somewhere else. I’m sure the fact that the majority of respondents are local affected the percentages in the rest of the survey.
• 68% prefer four distinct seasons; 21% agree that Colorado has only two seasons (summer and winter, all year around); 11% like the idea of green grass throughout the year.
• Given a choice, 68% prefer the mountains; 27% prefer the ocean; 5% don’t take advantage of living near either one.
• For solitude, 26% prefer the beach and 74% prefer the mountains.

The best part was the advice written to me. While anonymous, I have a pretty good idea of who many of you are.

Excerpts:

• “I think Bill should do what he wants … and stop paying attention to what I say in the comments section of his blog.”---- Oh, by the way Phil, you do seem to comment more than others on the blog, but I think that’s because Blogspot makes it difficult to leave comments unless you’re a scientist or engineer.
• “I cherish seasons, have never met a natural wonder grander than the Rockies, and (also dream) of relocating to Southern California.”
• “If you’re bored, I say get out. You can always come back.”
• “Getting off my mountain bike on a quiet trail in Boulder County may be the only place I’ve ever found that I can just sit still and “be” for a while. If you haven’t found that place ... yet … keep looking until you do.”
• “DON’T MOVE DON’T MOVE DON’T MOVE DON’T MOVE DONT MOVE”
• “Just don’t move to (someplace in Nebraska). 12 distinct seasons a year, secluded places to get away … but you need them … because of the closed mindedness that is such a part of the culture.”
• “Do what your heart tells you to do.”
• “So Cal is expensive! Traffic is even worse than Denver. Denver has more sun than So Cal. The people are nicer in Colorado … You can almost always see the mountains (from anywhere) in Denver (but) You need to be at the beach to see the ocean.”
• “Rattle your cage.”
• “I love the ocean, but having grown up … where the seasons NEVER change, I’d never live in a place without seasons again … it overrides my love of the ocean and indifference toward the mountains.”
• “You would miss the mountains!”
• “Move to California!!!”
• “Just do it! … Life is truly an accumulation of your experiences … The mountains (are different) in CA, but there still are mountains and they’re really beautiful.”
• “Be careful about trying to make your get away place home.”
• “Plenty of fun in the sun in California, just find a place where you aren’t living on top of others … there is (also) all the good wine and wine country.”
• “Do what your heart tells you to do … the grass always looks greener someplace else … you will find yourself in a tough housing market with high pollution in a highly body conscious gay community where it is tough to make new friends …”
• “Your soul belongs in Colorado.”
• “I would miss you … but you have to do what makes you happy.”
• “Reach for the sun.”

While the conclusions are not all in agreement, this gives me some good material with which to think. Sometimes it helps just to know that I have the option to do something. If I don’t feel stuck, I’m less anxious to make a change.

Meanwhile, here are some of my responses to other comments received:

• Yes, I know about the earthquakes, but when the Yellowstone supervolcano blows, we're all doomed anyway.
• I'm pretty sure there are doctors in California. Also Mormons.
• Orange County in particular is heavily Republican. You can't even swing an underfunded social program without hitting a Republican. But I've lived among those people before. I can do it again.
• No, Alaska is not under consideration, no matter who resides there.
• I wouldn't move to California without a huge increase in income. I am not cheap.

Just wait until I get into one of my periodic fantasies about moving back to Nebraska.