My Vancouver

11 thoughts on “My Vancouver”

  1. As a non-native-Vancouverite, I appreciate this post a great deal. If there’s anything I mildly disagree with, it’s that the city is friendlier than the suburbs…that hasn’t been my experience.

    But I too love Vancouver…I grew up in a town that was about 99.5% white Anglo, and I’d much rather live in Vancouver with all its diversity and new communities to experience.

  2. That was really inspiring! Matthew Good’s post got me feeling sad – at least it was ridden with how sad he is. You’re right, he’s a musician so the scene is ultra-important to him and more of a peripheral interest to the rest of us. Further, we’re like ten years younger than he (?) and hardly in a position to cry over spilled milk. If residing in this city for the forseeable future, why not make the best of it.
    But I’ve always believed that a city is made warmer by the quality of friendships you have with people in it, so it’s no wonder you, being established here, find it rather fantastic.

  3. Good rant/exposition.

    I quite like living in Vancouver, and I’ve lived in places all across the country. Sure, it’s not as friendly as a small town where you’ve spent all our life and know everyone and their (non-handbag) dog, but the benefits of Vancouver outweigh the bad bits, in my opinion.

  4. Chris: I think you qualified the small town thing with “spent all your life” – moving to a small town as an outsider is an extremely volatile experience.

    Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy to cultivate strong friendships here – and I don’t believe it’s easy anywhere – it’s something you have to work at.

    But at least in the city, people generally have better things to do than be actively mean to newcomers – or they’re at least self-absorbed enough to not care one way or the other.

  5. Y’know, I actually find it’s really quite easy to cultivate friendships here. It’s just different. Just like it was different in LA when I was there. The biggest change I made to make closer friends here was to put out a bit more effort to start the foundation off… Once that happens, I’ve found that I’ve developed extremely close and meaningful friendships with people (even downtown.. heh!)

    Thanks for this post — It had a really nice spin on it.

  6. I think Matt Good is just getting bitter and cynical because he’s old and successful and mainstream now. It’s gotta suck when the multitudes love you so much that you’re no longer considered alternative.

  7. i definitely agree with you about getting what you put in. amen! i hate the whiners who bitch about the city but do nothing to improve their relationship/connection with where they live.

  8. “i hate the whiners who bitch about the city but do nothing to improve their relationship/connection with where they live.” – this would kind of be my point. there MUST be something wrong with ME, ’cause people here are just perfect.

    don’t get me wrong – there are parts of vancouver that i love – more than parts i don’t love, even. one of the things i do hate, however, is the ‘cliquy’ nature of the folks here. it’s frustrating to someone who does go out of her way to be friendly to people, and meet new people.

  9. As someone who will be moving to Vancouver from her well-loved hometown of Calgary in a few months time, I found this post really encouraging. I’m terrified of leaving the city I’ve spent the last 25 years living and loving in, yet I’m so excited to be relocating to somewhere that I’ve always loved visiting and known would be my first stop on the way out of my comfort zone. It’s a fabulous city and I can’t wait to experience it for myself (the good and the bad) as a resident.

    Thanks 🙂

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