I know now why I could never live happily in Orlando.
There’s barely any creative class to speak of.
You know… Writers, painters, actors, musicians, dancers, etc. People who love, and feel as though they were born, to create.
I’m not being snobbish. It’s not even about “wanting to be with my own kind” (whatever that means), or surrounding myself with people “more like myself,” or anything lame like that. I don’t even fit into the creative class! Sure, when I try, I can write pretty damn well and I paint on and off, but that stuff doesn’t come naturally to me. I don’t feel a strong need to make or produce anything.
But here’s my reasoning: where there is a creative class, there is greater diversity. And what’s best, acceptance of said diversity. People drawn to the arts are usually people who grew up feeling like the odd man out; they’re the loners and the weirdos who always had their own distinct ways of thinking. Because they know what it’s like to be at odds with the crowd, they are more likely to seek out and form communities that are far more open to the differences in people and individuality in any form. It forms an environment that makes it so much easier for people to be who they are, without having to hide from society. I doubt it’s any coincidence that cities known for being creative centers have a significantly larger gay population. Hmm?
Anyway, I want that. I want to live in diversity. I want to know social equality. Not that Orlando doesn’t have any of this, it just isn’t to the degree I’d like. I feel like there isn’t enough room to grow. Nothing in Orlando screams ‘individuality.’ The city is made up of chain stores, chain restaurants, chain this, chain that. The atmosphere is bland, with little intellectual offerings. I can’t wait to move, I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.
you’re not alone!
