Geography and Mood

[One Eyed Cat]

To what extent does your city of residence affect your moods and happiness overall? It really varies for me. I'm a solitary soul in many ways. At the same time, I just feel more at home in different cities at different times.

Do you consider geography a real factor to maintaining a semblance of happiness and/or purpose?

[Mr Karl]

absolutely

[Bikerpunk]

I need to be near water, but away from pretentious assholes and inbred hicks.

The PNW works for me, mi amigo.

[Amelia G]

Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Both how geography shapes my mood and other people's. I know I tend to have overly empathic responses to the moods of those around me. Means I can extra-enjoy a concert and extra-loathe a riot.

[Mindgames]

...Means I can extra-enjoy a concert and extra-loathe a riot.

You need to hang with venue security and anarchists more - it'll even your empathy out.

I think it works the other way - you notice aspects of where you are based on your moods. You can be depressed in the Hamptons, or happy in Detroit - if you're in the frame of mind to notice the crap on every shoe, you'll notice it no matter where you are. I've been based in so many places all I notice is a change in the weather and the language on the breakfast menu.

[Amelia G]

You need to hang with venue security and anarchists more - it'll even your empathy out.

I think it works the other way - you notice aspects of where you are based on your moods. You can be depressed in the Hamptons, or happy in Detroit - if you're in the frame of mind to notice the crap on every shoe, you'll notice it no matter where you are. I've been based in so many places all I notice is a change in the weather and the language on the breakfast menu.

No matter where you go, there you are.

[Buster Friendly]

I think that alot of "place" has alot to do with the various aspects of our personal situations we find ourselves in too. I lived in places that I am sure are just fine, but couldn't find a social outlet, and had a hard time there. I am currently reliving in a place where I had a strong social network that's collapsed, but a weak financial situation that's now much better. I can afford to live here now, but my hangin' out, and socializing has been severly curtailed.

eh.

Other than that I tend to like urban environments, and college towns. I do like to get out into the woods on occasion, but find the folks who inhabit them regularly to be irritating on a daily basis. (Just once I'd like to see a movie where the hillbilly cannibal mutant clan of inbreds pick on some of the city slickers I've known all of my life. "That's not a knife. And neither is THIS Glock 9mm loaded with highly illegal Black Talon bullets." :grinning Seriously people have the weirdest ideas about us city folk.)

Like mountians, should live near some some day, am indifferent to the ocean, should give that a whirl for a spell as well. Hate humidity, am indifferent to cold (up to a certain point, and then it just gets old.)

Had a shit time in the desert, but will chock that up to the company I was keeping as mentioned above.

[Bikerpunk]

Buster: the PNW is nice.

[OrganizedKhaos]

I love the change of scenery...
Geographic regions can most definitely effect my moods....

Damn, I miss Florida.
Boca Raton (east coast) definitely has a different FEEL than Fort Myers (west coast)

[One Eyed Cat]

I think it is a bit symbiotic. Obviously, if you are just unhappy you will be anywhere. Having reached a basic level of happiness/purpose, I think it can be the icing on the cake. I just can't discount how great I felt being back home last time.

OEC

[One Eyed Cat]

I think that alot of "place" has alot to do with the various aspects of our personal situations we find ourselves in too. I lived in places that I am sure are just fine, but couldn't find a social outlet, and had a hard time there. I am currently reliving in a place where I had a strong social network that's collapsed, but a weak financial situation that's now much better. I can afford to live here now, but my hangin' out, and socializing has been severly curtailed.

eh.

Other than that I tend to like urban environments, and college towns. I do like to get out into the woods on occasion, but find the folks who inhabit them regularly to be irritating on a daily basis. (Just once I'd like to see a movie where the hillbilly cannibal mutant clan of inbreds pick on some of the city slickers I've known all of my life. "That's not a knife. And neither is THIS Glock 9mm loaded with highly illegal Black Talon bullets." :grinning Seriously people have the weirdest ideas about us city folk.)

Like mountians, should live near some some day, am indifferent to the ocean, should give that a whirl for a spell as well. Hate humidity, am indifferent to cold (up to a certain point, and then it just gets old.)

Had a shit time in the desert, but will chock that up to the company I was keeping as mentioned above.

The desert is the only landscape I've never lived in. Ocean, mountains, rivers, and now lakes. Sea level to steppes to high altitude. Rural to urban. Lakes make for the oddest weather. Nice country though.

OEC

[OliX]

Do you consider geography a real factor to maintaining a semblance of happiness and/or purpose?

Definitely!

[One Eyed Cat]

Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Both how geography shapes my mood and other people's. I know I tend to have overly empathic responses to the moods of those around me. Means I can extra-enjoy a concert and extra-loathe a riot.

A good show just has the right vibe. Protests can be cool. I would avoid riots to the extent possible though. I have no intention of "protesting" the Republican Convention if I'm here in Saint Paul. I think it misses the point. It's going to be a mess. I live a few miles from the venue. Saint Paul is really still a small town. I will be avoiding that area to the extent possible.

OEC

[VoltaireBlue]

I honestly feel that it depends on how I choose to look at it. human perception is incredibly powerful.

[Amelia G]

A good show just has the right vibe. Protests can be cool. I would avoid riots to the extent possible though. I have no intention of "protesting" the Republican Convention if I'm here in Saint Paul. I think it misses the point. It's going to be a mess. I live a few miles from the venue. Saint Paul is really still a small town. I will be avoiding that area to the extent possible.

OEC

One of my grandfathers was a delegate at the convention where they had the hideous brutalizing of protesters by police captured on camera and broadcast to America. My grandmother came back mostly horrified by what awful language those terrible hippies used. (I learned to cuss from my other grandmother.)

Appalling as my grandmother's reaction was, I do think it is kinda wrong to protest the convention, as that comes across more as an objection to the process than a proponent of a certain approach or issue.

[Mr Karl]

I hope to live out my autumn years someplace that doesn't look, or feel like shit.................I find the west coast agrees with me

[One Eyed Cat]

One of my grandfathers was a delegate at the convention where they had the hideous brutalizing of protesters by police captured on camera and broadcast to America. My grandmother came back mostly horrified by what awful language those terrible hippies used. (I learned to cuss from my other grandmother.)

Appalling as my grandmother's reaction was, I do think it is kinda wrong to protest the convention, as that comes across more as an objection to the process than a proponent of a certain approach or issue.

Chicago '68? God, I hope it doesn't go down like that. I don't think it will be *that* bad. The possible trainwreck is due mostly to the size of Saint Paul. I just don't understand the fascination at this juncture. Bush will be here. So what? It's a bit late in the game.

OEC