Being a native Californian and Los Angeles resident since birth, I have several decades of observing left-coast behavior (I was going to say humanity, but I’m not sure it applies).
Thus it was a pleasant surprise to spend a couple of quick, red-eye-flight-faciliated days in Philadelphia with my friend, eating, drinking and going to baseball games.
My conclusion?
California, especially the beknighted southern portion, prides itself on being laid back. However, Philadelphia to me was a truly laid-back environment.
Here in California, you maneuver for your life on the freeways if you don’t drive 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. Some macho-idiot male in his Ford F150 or some soccer mom with cell phone in one hand and coffee mug in the other in her SUV will try to drive you off the road. We’re talking here inches off your rear end, clear message and intimidation: Get the f— out of my way.
What I’m saying is that SoCal is home to the greatest concentration of greedy, selfish a-holes in the world. I don’t think that human energy put in the service of intimidating and screwing other people in the name of your own ego is laid back. Sorry.
The people in Philadelphia, and later in Washington, D.C., which I also visited, were all routinely nice–and laid back in the true sense of the word.
Of course, I didn’t do any driving, but I didn’t see that many SUVs or F150s either.
Why does everyone in California have to drive a monster vehicle?
Case closed.
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