Tourist or Towny?

It is largely presumed that one of the major benefits of moving to a big city is all the nightlife and entertainment that will be readily available at ones fingertips. This likely stems from trips and vacations where people hit the theater, pay expensive rates for concert tickets, or seek out any and every cool thing to do in town.

The only person I have ever known to do these things while actually living in a big city is my sister, and that might just be a character flaw. No no. I jest. It’s awesome because any time I have ever visited her we are always having the best time. She knows all the best places to go or all the cool things available to do.

But, shockingly (I say with a tinge of irony), people in these big cities – New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco – don’t really do all that much. Sure, they might go to the theater a few times a year if they are into that kind of thing. But how many New Yorkers do you think have gone up the Statue of Liberty? How many San Frannies do you think walk across the Golden Gate bridge when they could just as easily drive over it? How many LA-ians stare in wonder at the Hollywood sign? They see these things every day. And lets face it… they have lives.

These are the kinds of things people only really do on vacation. You’ve been saving your money and you’re only there once (at least), so now’s the time right? It’s part of the fun. You don’t go all that way to sit in your hotel room!

But for some reason, so many people do go all that way [home] to just sit in their room. Why, I ask you? Why?

Well, for me in California it was largely a financial constraint. After spending most your time working to pay to live out there we were exhausted and also broke. Buying a $60 ticket to go see a show was out of the question. Just going to dinner and renting a movie cost about $100. (How I don’t know!! But it’s true.) Show tickets, plus cost of parking, plus dinner before hand, plus costs of adult beverage could quickly come to equal about half my monthly paycheck.

Even going to a PARK cost money. I am serious. We had to pay to go to the parks. The Muir Woods State Park cost $11 dollars a person just to walk around and look at trees.

We did go to the Golden Gate Bridge, but that was usually when we had guests from out of town. And right before we moved we went up the Coit Tower that overlooks the city. And I would say we did more than the average person.

Maybe its because it isn’t special if its your own hometown. I mean, here in Jacksonville we have a gaggle of great things we could all do for a good time, or to know our great city better. Maybe we could stop by Maxwell House to get an idea of why the city always smells of burnt coffee? I know for a fact we can tour the Anheiser Busch factory. The Jags games I know to be a great time every time (even when they lose) and those people really want (and need) our support! No more blackouts! And I hardly ever go to the beach, even though its one of Jacksonville’s huge claims to fame!

I will say this though: at least I can afford to actually do some of these things now. We in Florida have it made when it comes to standard of living. Good weather, cheap rent, and long sandy beaches. (There it is! I really should go more…)

I do get my fair share in these days though. I just saw Cirque Dreams at the Times-Union Center. I go to shows on a regular basis, something I did not do in California, mostly because the shows either sucked or cost too much money. I try to enjoy the sights. But I think we could all learn a lesson from those tourists we mock. They are enjoying what a place has to offer. Why don’t we go enjoy what our place has waiting just at the tips of our fingers.