by Dana Ross
I live in an amazing city.
I used to live in Paris, which was magnificent, but this other city is the best. Everywhere I go, people are friendly. I shop for groceries on foot, ride my bike to libraries, live a block from my post office, take the bus to the beach for 50 cents, meet friends in the morning in cafes. The weather is pleasant and the terrain is mostly flat, making cycling a delight. I go days without getting in my car. I ride my bike to most of my jobs, my kids and I pedal to school, my wife pedals to her college towing a trailer with all her books in it.
My neighbors are my friends. I have most of their keys in case they get locked out, but most of them don't lock their doors anyway. I help people fix things, loan and borrow tools, trade interesting articles with friends.
I play tennis with neighbors at our local park. My nine-year-old daughter helps at a local coffee roasting store on Saturdays. I met my wife at a nearby market. This is a rich life--how does it get any better than this?
I attribute my enjoyment of this city to the social skills I acquired while living in France. For five years in Paris my life revolved not around possessions or cars but around friends, meals and the city. I learned to use a city as a conduit for interactions with people. Meals became a sharing ground for ideas and entertainment. Relationships had much value because so much is possible with the help of friends. You can't buy everything. You can't get backstage at a concert or play unless you know someone. You can't find a good mechanic unless you know someone. The best things aren't advertised but they are talked about. Relationships make the world go 'round and this city is filled with people. Some of them are bored out of their minds and some are exciting and exuberant. I choose to hang out with the latter.
Now before you tell me that you want to move to this wonderful city of mine let me tell you that this isn't Mayberry or Lake Woebegone--this is the heart of Los Angeles. Yes, the good life is here. You need only choose to join in.
Most people isolate themselves from their neighborhoods by commuting far away each day, shopping in big-box stores by car and staying inside watching T.V. at night. This is nothing more than the emotional equivalent of a McDonald's "Happy Meal," which is neither a meal nor happy. If you want a steady diet of the rich things in life you will have to look in a different menu. Here are some suggestions for life a la carte. And at this table every dish is the special of the day.
Walk, shop or work in your neighborhood.You will be surprised at how quickly you become connected to other people in your community. If you've been rushing to work everyday and zooming home at night, you've been missing out.
Say Hi to everybody, pick up a little trash while you're out there.
Support your local shops and get to know everybody who works there.
Give your kids Razor scooters and encourage them to play outside.
Play ball on the sidewalk in front of your home.
Sit outside to read.
Have a yard sale or block party. Everybody wants to meet each other.
Work in the next election, you make a little money and you meet your neighbors.
Sell the T.V.
Invite people to dinner.
Ride a bike to work or shop.
Do the sports or activities that exist close to you.
If you live near the water join a rowing team.
Become a regular at the local breakfast joint.
Don't get the paper delivered, go out for a walk in the morning and get one.
Pretend you are living where you want to be and then you will be there. You will influence others too and that will make your world a better place.
Dana Ross is a commercial photographer in Los Angeles
