Everybody is leaving this city!
At first I was disappointed that everybody is cutting town - but now I'm ready to accept this. People are moving on - following what matters to them - love, adventure, money, a career - all of which I approve of. I'd rather have all my friends dispersed throughout the planet than have them all in one city bored and miserable. They wouldn't be the people I'd want to hang out with. And no, it doesn't mean you're bored and miserable if you stay in Edmonton, but if you're not following whatever is calling you, then you run the risk of becoming.. bored... or miserable. But of course there are no guarantees; you could probably spend your entire life here without any direction or goals and still be completely happy - or you could hop around to various cities following what you think would make you happy - and then be miserable. Like Douglas Copeland said, which I am paraphrasing - like I could remember a direct quote: "I travelled the world looking for the best city out there and then realized that my hometown was the best city going" (Vancouver) Not that Edmonton is the best city going or anything, and not that I'm trying to discourage you all from leaving, but ya know - I have to tell myself something if I'm going to be staying here for awhile.
6 comments:
Let's light and candle and say a prayer for the quick invention of teleporters.
Coupland also talked about how many of us have elitist travel fantasies and are subsequently disappointed when we move to another city or travel and find out that everyone else had the same idea--making us totally unoriginal or creative in the process. I certainly met my fair share of Canadians while backpacking around Australia or living in England. Sigh!
BTW, I'll officially be an Edmontonian again on August 1st. Thanks for the scouting work, Amy! I owe you several beer.
-- Steve
Funny - during the school year, I can't wait to get back to Edmonton no the weekends. I really do love this city (and I've spent quite a bit of time living in other locations).
home is not a place, it is it's people...I miss you edmonton! anna-exploring-calgary
the only one I would like to escape from every once in a while is myself and somehow that is my only luggage when I do go new places. sigh.
I am in the city from the 15th until the 19th (day we fly). email me your phone number, dudette!?
Home is where the heart is
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