These Get Old

After 5 burglaries New Orleanian gives up, moving to Austin

These stories, they get old after a while. It’s generally the same, someone is leaving town, blaming something. I’ve read or listened to dozens of these just in the few five years I have nbeen here. Those who left who are checking in to say “That’s why I left.” Those who are about to leave who are saying, “This is why I am about to leave.” Those who are leaving who say, “Here’s why.”

And where ever they go, there they are.

I’ve kicked a couple cities on my way out myself.

As a 23 year-old Hospitality Industry barhopper in Pensacola, I made the decision to leave based on the city’s redundancy and to escape my intoxicated miscreant youth. People moaned that there was nothing to do all the time. I exited, chastised my friends and encouraged them to leave as well. Some did, others didn’t. I am better for my decision and I can say that those who stayed are doing fine as well.

As a 31 year-old Entertainment editor in San Diego, I was immersed in a superficial culture that tore down its landmarks and tried to create brand new ones. I was swamped by 800 sqaure foot properties for $300,000 and folks that judged me on my car and my southern accent. All my friends lamented the fact that they hated their home. Large, fake breasts and dance clubs with stanchions out front surrounded me. People complained about how fake it all was constantly. I made the decision to leave and was gone a few months later.

So now I live in a place where people tattoo the city’s symbol to their forearms and biceps. And I still hear complaints about the city and it’s crime problem and corruption and hurricanes. I guess I am becoming sort of a sophomore resident because stories about people leaving and kicking the city on their way out don’t intrigue me any longer. I don’t blame anyone for leaving. I utterly understand their decisions. Everyone’s thought about it. But if someone decides to leave I’m not sure it’s much of a news story. Because people are leaving cities they are sick of all over the country. And I am not sure what the purpose of another newspaper story or Internet scribe about leaving is. Is it going to inspire the police department or the local government to finally make an effort to improve? No.

What it might do is inspire other residents to leave as well and since GNO population continues to grow, I’m not sure how this story contributes to any sort of increasing trend.

So to anyone out there who has left, is think of leaving or is in the process of leaving. I appreciate your decision. I empathize with you. I welcome you back. But please don’t kick the city on the way out because you gave up the fight.

And to local media, these stories aren’t news, they are just life.