One last week...

And so it is that our stay here will be coming to an end next monday. Tonight will be our last chance to walk in the streets of East Village - on our way to  what will be the final chapter of our NY 2012 Tattoo fest. 

It's often sad to leave, whether it's Moscow or Montreal, but leaving NY is just heartbreaking for both of us. Plus, we have no clue how we'll like Vegas, though neither of us ever thought it's a place we'd particularly like to even just visit. But it's where life takes us...

But we'll be happy to enjoy some real time off together at last - right in time for us to celebrate our 3rd anniversary, probably somewhere in California. I have friends in San Diego - and a great tattoo artist who's been recommended to us lives there - we want to see San Francisco and LA. 

Plus, we possibly have some interesting things and gigs ahead for us in Vegas. And we'll be back here every chance that we get - we're already planning a visit in March - though it obviously won't be the same as living here. 

It's weird because I never really felt at home anywhere I lived. I could appreciate a city, get used to it, enjoy it. But none felt like "home". I didn't even care all that much for it before we got here, because, wherever I go, that's where I am, and that's it, pretty much, and I wasn't expecting this city to be any different. So it's not like I was even interested. But NY won me over the first night we spent here. It felt like the right place for me, and it's been the same every day since.

Oh, well...

I've been to Vegas many times since several of the large tournaments I've played in were there (and only once, briefly, was I on stage for a music gig for two friend's acting as roadie, photographer and, momentarily, part of the act).

To me it's a dead, plastic city artificial in every sense of the word.  That said, I have had a few good times there and, I'm sure, I will again.

I've mostly done the touristy, casino-y things while I was there for the old Comdex PC convention or when I stopped on my way to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.  What I saw was plastic and artificial as Craig said.  However, I have known people who've lived there who are far from artificial.  I have to believe that there is some culture that the residents experience outside of the strip.   

Enjoy your last week, 
Jan

We got news from our friend who is renting the condo to us for our first few months there. Seems that Vegas - or at least that part of Vegas where we'll live - doesn't really have a recycling service, which, alone, justifies the Sin City label. That doesn't really agree w/ our ethics, so we'll probably have a hard time w/ that. I just can't imagine throwing away stuff that could be recycled - it's been part of our life for well over 25 years. 

As part of our enjoying the last week, we went to a friend's studio in Brooklyn last night. I was happy to finally have an opportunity to walk the streets of Henry Miller's birthplace before we leave. Reminded me of the part of the city where we lived in Montreal. 

I also lived another personal historic moment when I put my hands on (and heard my wife's voice through) a late 70s Harrison 4032 mixing board, one which actually started its career in Westlake Studio.  Wow...

And now that I've heard them in action, I wish I could stretch the budget and get my hands on a pair of those Dynaudio BM15A... Good stuff. :P

  I have never been to Vegas although my wife and I almost made it a destination this year.

 It's funny....a lot of the people who live on the shore seldom go to the ocean. There are probably people living within 10 miles of Disney who have never gone there. I guess it is likely the same way in Vegas. People who live there don't all go to center city every weekend. The community of Vegas is probably a different thing altogether,and a better thing.

 You will be one of those people who will get to know the regulars. Way different than the people who go only for a few days or a week. 

 Wish you all the best there.

Ask Tom Jones where the best neighborhoods are.

But if you ask him if the kids next door can be loud, expect him to say "It's not unusual..."