> How DO people live in the city? I don't know. I
> came home on Saturday night and was still
> wiped out on Tuesday, sleeping every free
> moment of the day and spending my waking
> life in lethargy. Matt says one adjusts to the city
> if one lives there long enough. But, would I?
> Would I?

I really don't know if I could live in a big city either, Dagmar. I'm from the small city of Raleigh, NC and currenlty reside in the college town of Elon, NC. Many people from New England are attracted to this particular college, and they often seemed surprised at the beginning of the year when they observed how other students would exchange greetings with people they didn't know, hold doors open for others and other such actions that seem so ordinary to me.

It felt especially strange when people would suddenly get uncomfortable when I would make eye contact with them and smile.

My one trip to the Big Apple, a few years ago, left me with mixed feelings. "It's a nice place, but I wouldn't want to live there," sums them up rather well. It was emotionally draining to walk through all the apathy and mental separation that made the streets feel empty. Still, stereotypes, thank heavens, are not true in all cases, and I managed to meet many kind and helpful people there. Central Park also felt like a breath of fresh air, due to the fact that the folks there are trying to unwind, I suppose.

I'll say it now and mean no offense by it. I cannot live in a large urban area. I don't have the mettle to wear the invisible box that so many people use to protect themselves in that vast sea of faces, none of which look me in the eye, unless they want money. Or they're handing out pamphlets on everything from salvation to 5% off coupons.

10Kan