intellectual properties

SF: it draws you out

“Everyone always says, “There’s SOMEthing about San Francisco.” And then they proceed to try to nail it down by making lists of the things that make this city what it is… But you can’t do that and actually capture that something. Maybe because it’s different for everyone. Maybe it’s not actually something and people just need to justify why they live in a loud, crowded, dirty city with a bunch of loud, crazy people.“

–my friend calli, who is featured today in “i live here: SF“, a photoblog project that photographs and interviews people about how and why they live in SF, which i’ve been enjoying for quite some time.

i often feel this way about both NY and SF. how do we justify this rent, this noise, this pollution, this crime? our cost-benefit analysis can only be understood by others who live here. and it seems to be totally different for everyone, but always coming out on the benefit side. see also: i live here: mat.

and then this:

I dance and perform. Something I would have never had the courage to do if it weren’t for the people in this city who drew it out of me.

this, above and beyond the amazingly beautiful scenery and mild weather and endless varieties of food and art, is why i also love SF. because i find myself doing and being things here i don’t think i could anywhere else – and it’s not just that you “can” – the radical acceptance and “anything goes as long as you aren’t hurting anyone” culture of the bay area allows for great freedom of expression. but it’s more than that.  if there’s an artist, a freak, a maker, an activist, a chef, a writer, a climber, a builder in you, anywhere, inside, you almost have no choice.  this city draws it out of you.

Filed in bay area gems, friends | Comment (1)