San Francisco’s Creative Energy
I first came to San Francisco on a whim and it took only moments to realize that this was the place that was my creative center. It wasn’t where I always lived in the past and may not be where I’ll always live in the future. But it is always going to be the place that can re-invigorate my soul when inspiration elsewhere is lacking.
I was reminded of this recently upon my return home from a multi-week vacation in my hometown. I had good times on that trip. Tucson has it’s own kind of creativity that is interesting and unique, casual and fun. I browsed thrift stores where vintage clothes were actually affordable enough to consider buying. I attended a refreshingly new open mic music/poetry/freestyle event at an art cafe by the college. I saw stand-up comedy go awkwardly amongst a group that was just being born. This is home.
But what I’d forgotten somehow is that my original home saps my creative energy whereas my new home replaces it. In Tucson, I always think about doing creative things but never find the energy to do them. The lackadaisacal approach to life which makes it’s such a laidback place also makes it one that I find creatively stagnant. I was wilting there, but a wilting flower doesn’t always know that it’s not thriving. It continues to exist.
I wasn’t particularly excited about coming back to the city. On the plane, I was sad about leaving my hometown. When I arrived at the airport, I was annoyed because I’d brought back too much luggage to be able to navigate BART on my own and so had to foot the bill for a cab from SFO. But then the cab reached the limits of the city. The sparkling lights of downtown San Francisco lit up my soul. The building with the furniture jutting out of it that’s over a the corner of 6th and … is it Howard? … reminded me that there is no neighborhood in this city lacking in its own creative energy.
Walking on the streets of San Francisco, where people move all of the time around you, the energy is different than in most places. It may not be right for everyone. But I think it’s tuned in to exactly the energy frequency that I need in order to be my best self. And I don’t think that I’m the only creative person in San Francisco who thinks that way.
Comments Off