I realized recently that my life has become very orderly in terms of the people I regularly see. It happened when I was out to dinner with Fiancee S. and my parents at a local brew pub last week. In looking around at the young singles around me in same and mixed sex groups, I realized how ordered my personal world has become and how few opportunities I have to just watch people these days.
This wasn't always so. I used to spend a good deal more time out and about. Some of that time was spent with co-workers during my University days. Weekly "security meetings" with fellow staffers after work at a local bar or league bowling (with a handicap -- we were there for the beer) during the summer offered many a chance to just mingle with people. Likewise, online dating used be a tortuous but interesting exercise in meeting new people... or at least to be in the the same room with strangers. I also used to venture out on my own to see live shows and the like... wow... it's been quite a while since I went to see a live act. *sigh*
It was easier to see live shows in my University days; the bars and music halls where live music was played were often within several blocks of where I used to live. Blues Traveler, Weird Al Yankovic, Charlie Musselwhite, Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit, the Reverend Horton Heat, Taj Mahal, the Breeders, Ronnie Montrose, Helmet, The Jesus Lizard, Dread Zepplin, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Leo Kottke, Diana Krall, The Asylum Street Spankers, A.J. Croce, David Wilcox, Primus, Tool, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Freddie Green, Little Feat, Blue Oyster Cult -- I need to compile a list of all the artists I saw perform during the last 10-12 years. It was always so easy to just walk on down there and stumble home, my ears still full of joyous sounds and my mouth still tasting a pint of tasty microbrew.
Those days are over. I live in an area that lacks anything resembling a neighborhood bar that isn't a dive last renovated in 1956 at that. My co-workers at Company O. aren't much for socializing outside of work. Seeing live music has also become so damn expensive... ticket prices these days are usually such that you can buy at least one of the artist's CD's and a six pack of beer. It almost makes more sense to buy the disc and stay home. Seeing live music also usually involves driving and finding parking these days... always a hassle in this metropolitan area.
No, my exposure to people has become more limited and regular of late, and, I wonder what this bodes for the future.
Maybe it's time to think of picking up some more group-related activities. I could join a Church choir, or, volunteer my computer expertise somewhere. I could start taking classes for fun at a local community college again (I know... I'll become an ASE certified auto mechanic and start making those really BIG bucks! j/k) Fiancee S. is talking about dance lessons before our wedding and that will certainly be a good opportunity to watch people. Or maybe Fiancee S. and I just need to go out more often... if we can ever break out of this sad, symbiotic relationship with cardboard boxes that I wrote about yesterday.
And then, of course, there is my continued participation in the online journaling community... some of you have been very interesting and informed correspondents. That has given me a very interesting outlet for my thoughts and let my words connect with some lovely people.
said drgeek
on 2003-10-22 at 12:31 p.m.
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The Wayback Machine - To Infinity And Beyond
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