09.24.19
This whole “traveling the world thing” really puts a lot of things into perspective. Aside from seeing how the “other half” (or ¾) lives it also allows for reflection from our own past lives and our history.
To update those that don’t know the back story, I left the US February 17, 2019 and have traveled throughout Europe staying six weeks at a spot. Spain, Italy, then Croatia, mixed in with half a dozen more where we stayed for less than six weeks. I have also returned to the US twice, once last April, but that was to the East coast and I did not go back to my home of 40 years, Orange County, California. I have now returned from where I left and have amazing clarity on what I term “bubbles.”
These bubbles can be time oriented, but mostly they are locale focused.
Orange County is not like most of the United States. It is a dichotomy of very wealthy, both old money and new, usually drawn to the weather and the coast. There is the growing middle class who is being squeezed by the gap between upper and lower class and they find that their middle is not as comfortable- or as promising- as it used to be. That was me… And there is the lower class, which, in this sense, is comprised of those just getting by, living in poverty or semi poverty, and the growing number of immigrants who have become the majority of parts of California and Orange County.
This is not a political riff or anything along those lines, but merely shares the observations of the various lifestyles that people live, or have lived, including me. In hindsight I am 100% happy with my decision to leave my bubble and experience the world. You may be frustrated with your bubble too, and many have said “I wish I could leave, but can’t.”
When I arrived in Portland, Oregon I didn’t know what to expect. It is an eclectic town that seems to get off on being different. Unique. And the term Diversity is big there and they insinuate that they love, embrace and accept everyone. Great intentions. Walking by a yogurt shop I saw a poster that said: “All Welcome! All races, religions, sexual orientation, genders, abilities. You are SAFE here” I had to take a picture and wondered, “Are some people NOT safe at other yogurt shops?” So that’s Portland.
My Orange County visit had me staying in tony Newport Beach, among the rich, and the wanna’ be rich, and those that appear to be that way. I also stayed further inland behind a private gated community in a beautiful house where everyone lives perfect lives with perfectly manicured lawns and perfectly polite children who spend their time at soccer, dance, and a host of other activities. It was perfect, but I felt out of place. Del Mar, California, is a nice beach town where I believe they make it a LAW than anyone moving there must have a dog! They were everywhere, virtually all restaurants were designed to accommodate the four-footers and the people there were tanned, in shape, seemingly affluent, and loved their canines.
And then there’s the places where I lived overseas. They still have their idiosyncrasies and unique footprint, but they appear to be more real, more authentic, than what we live here in the US.
Maybe I’m becoming a cynic, but I don’t think there is any bubble in the US that would entice me back.
So what about YOU? What is your bubble like? Does it fit you and do you fit it??
#orangecounty, #portland, #traveling, #travel, #newportbeach
