This is a journal, right? Write!

[triadruid]

I love this city (Kansas City, for those of you playing at home). Boston is still my favorite place to visit, but for out-and-out living here, Kansas City really has everything I need and then some.

I much prefer the character of an older building being rehabbed, next to a newly refurbished building holding a small business, down the road from the new tower building, than strip mall after strip mall after strip mall after...

While I curse it some days, I like that you can drive 15 minutes and be in a totally different neighborhood, with different businesses, characteristics, and benefits. I *love* that my job lets me go to so many of them.

I like working for the City, too. Even with the inherent potential for corruption and inefficiency of our system of government, they get things done from time to time. Even in a severe fiscal crunch, they're trying new things, like a off-leash park and an expansion of the number of animals a household can have, as long as the neighbors don't mind. They're doing the best they can with the information (and support!) they get, for the most part. It helps that I work for what I unabashedly think is the most responsive, involved department in the entire City. But I'd rather work here than be in a 9-5 office somewhere for more pay, or doing makework in a suburban government functionary's job.

I don't know what it is. Maybe the gorgeous weather. Maybe getting out of town for a few days (yes, my Heartland report is coming, I just haven't had time) gave me a better appreciation. I was driving around running errands this afternoon and it came over me, so I figured, "I have a journal...I could actually write this down."

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Comments

Vacation

[lexpendragon.livejournal.com]

Nothing Like A Short Vacation To Put That Spring Back In Your Step, Huh?

Something like that

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

How you doin'?

Re: Something like that

[lexpendragon.livejournal.com]

Pretty Well. I'm Working On My Write Up For My Whole Trip. How's Life In Your Time Zone?

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

I've got to agree. As much as I hate the sweltering summers and the bitter freezing winters, I can't imagine living anywhere else. Gaia Community, Camp Gaea, Westport, the Plaza, the music scene, all the beautiful parks and fountains... the high density of Pagans, UUs, gays, and artists... our beautiful house right next to the blue river... all our wonderfrul friends and family... and such amazing diversity! So, when do we want to pick up those interfaith passports? :)

Interfaith passports

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Umm, as soon as we can corner breathofgold about them? Or someone from the Interfaith Council, I suppose...

What's next? Greek Orthodox?

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

All these pretty new user pics. Marvy!

[kcwitch.livejournal.com]

that is why mac and i came back. living in colorado springs although it was beautiful it just never was "home" the people wasn't like the people here. here i can go anywhere in this city and see someone i know or meet a new person. the people are friendly, i can strike up a conversation in the grocery line or at the ::gasp:: laundromat. i have had perfect strangers offer me help when i broke down on the road and i have given a stranger a ride when she was going to take the bus with all her groceries and i helped her carry them in. that is just something that never happened anywhere in my travels and i have traveled a lot. we live a laid back life and we are never in a hurry. we actually do stop to smell the roses. i think kc is pretty groovy.

hospitality

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

I've lived in other places (Iowa, for example) that had the same sort of help-your-neighbor ethic, but I wanted just a little more in the way of culture. Kansas City for me is an excellent balance of that down-home atmosphere and enough culture and excitement to keep you occupied.

Re: hospitality

[kcwitch.livejournal.com]

that was something else i was gonna add cuz most people think that kansas city doesn't have anything to do, they just don't know where to look. i can find things for family's, children, couples, artist's, single's, nightlife, etc...all the time. not to mention we got hella great BBQ and beef!

Me too!

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

I purposely moved back here after college. This has just always been home for me. I've visited lots of places, but this is where I want to be (even with the weather).

weather

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the weather does kinda blow (though not as badly as Oklahoma, where they didn't even put the wind in the weather reports), and I'll probably be singing a slightly different tune when it's 102° and 102% humidity, but on a day like today, you can't beat it.

Re: weather

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

Yep, I had my little self out in the sun today as much as I could. Love this weather! I just don't *appreciate* some of the other weather as much as I could

Must be the vacations

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Everyone's so damned cheerful and rejuvenated this week. You all should go off and spend four days out of doors more often. Slack queen says.

Re: Must be the vacations

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

I hear and will do my best to obey.

Brilliant!

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

See? We all have so much to learn...

You know. . .

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

At first I hated it. It was so much different than anywhere I'd ever been before. (I lived in Harrisonville at the time.) The weather sucked, and the people were, just, weird. Then, when I got divorced, I thought about leaving and going back to the West Coast. (Washington, most likely, to live with my mom for a while) Well, the divorce decree stated I could not take the kids out of state without the ex's approval. I knew he wouldn't go along with that, so I'm stuck here. (Wait for it) However, since I found Gaia, and all my friends, I've found my home. I've been at my job for over six years, and mostly I love it. My friends have helped me explore KC in a whole new, different way. I love it. Do I miss California?, well, yes, mostly due to the weather. But there is absolutely nothing in the world like watching the trees turn colors in the autumn and the flowers blooming in the spring. Not to mention the first snow, and I really love my friends. It's my home now. Yay.

Ditto

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

I kinda picked Kansas City out of a hat, being done with my job in Cedar Rapids (IA) and wanting to get somewhere with a little better opportunities. So I was applying in Omaha, Kansas City, and Des Moines, and Des Moines came up on the jackpot first.

The rest is history, mainly involving September 11th and Westport and not knowing my way around town, and ice storms, and nice jeans...