Yesterday there was a Twitter from Richard Florida, a professor and cultural/social theorist and all around brilliant author and man, which asked 'Are you living in the right city?' Which has been the question that I have been asking myself for years, but more particularly in the last year.In grade 10 I decided that I would go to Toronto to attend Ryerson University for their Fashion Marketing program and then head south to Miami to . . . I don't know help Versace out or something. Namely I loved the Eastern lifestyle/vibe but didn't think I could survive without the sun, so Miami seemed like a good fit. Then in grade 12 I also brought New York City in the mix since I was obsessed with the city and with fashion magazines and had been for some time. I figured I had some years to figure it all out and would first work on attaining that all-important degree.
My mother had other plans. I lived in the outer-outer suburbs of Vancouver, BC and she was a California baby. She wanted her baby in Los Angeles. She pushed and tried and prodded me to attend post-secondary options in LA but I was stubborn and held on to my Toronto dreams. I kept on having thoughts of university in LA like Elizabeth Berkeley's character on Saved by the Bell when she had daymares of University of Hawaii - namely a lot of beach action and no actual education (which I would totally take now - darn I was so naive). So at the age of 17 I moved to Toronto.
I was bewildered and enchanted by Toronto. I lived 5 minutes from the Yonge-Dundas Square, and more importantly the Eaton's Center. After a year here I decided to check out Miami to see how I vibed with the city. I found it to be a big, hot, crazy, urban party scene that I was just not into (also young and naive again - totally love that now). Veto Miami. Then next I checked out NYC which I fell in love with (and wrote about that love affair here) and figured that was the next natural step.
Well since that time I have spent a year in Vancouver, a city that I also think is grand, and visited NYC another three times. But the breaking news is that I visited LA. Yes Los Angeles, the city my mother tried to push me towards which I aschewed believing I was much too cultured for that smoggy place. I went with no expectations, only to have some fun in my down time. And within an hour it was love at first sight. I was under the California sun rays spell and I didn't want out.
So I was left in a conundrum. Where do I live? I still have many ties to Toronto but feel ready to pick up and leave. New York feels a little gritty for me . . . and Vancouver is just not a perfect fit . . . . Miami is way off target but LA feels and looks pretty good.
So I did this questionnaire posted by Richard Florida which asked a series of serious questions that makes an educated, level-headed look at your cities of choice. It basically comes down to the fact that I have a great social and business network established here in Toronto as well as numerous opportunities in my career and for education as well. So the verdict is . . . drumroll please . . . Charlie will stay in Toronto . . . for now. Thanks Florida for helping me make a commitment to not be in Florida or in LA for that matter. We'll see what happens when it gets cold again here though . . .
Related Posts:
NYC Love
YYZ Dia 18- Should I stay or should I go?
LAX Dia 14- Should I stay or should I go?
Posts
7 comments: