Walking the walk

I realized tonight that I do not make the most of the city that I live in. I do not take advantage of really any of the things that Riverside has to offer. I suppose that it is no different than anywhere else that I have lived, at least in the way that I live in it. I work, I go to school, I live and I sleep here. But I look at other cities and think, "Why can't I live there? Where they have a city that lives?" Crap! Total crap! First, I have no idea what I am talking about. I mean, comparing Riverside to Chicago, or Los Angeles, or San Francisco, or New York leaves Riverside behind those cities in what most people would call "culture." But using that as a reason to avoid what this city has to offer is just stupid. Second, I do this thing where I tell myself, and others, that I'm not that type of person. I think I mean the type of person that enjoys or goes to art shows, book and poetry readings, etc. Which, at the last time that I checked, I am. It appears that my laziness knows no bounds.

But I beat it tonight. I made it to the Riverside Art Walk. Granted, I made it pretty late. I also did not even find the place I really wanted to go to, and most of the rest of the parts of the Art Walk were closed or closing when I did get there and find them. What I saw though was awesome. It helped me to realize that comparing Riverside to other places, in reference to the "culture" here is only a way to help me avoid what is here. Or maybe, just to help me avoid here.