East Is East

Note:  This piece was begun winter 2011

Following 21 years in Washington State, here are some observations:

Food: Man, I miss Dungeness crab and Thai food. But the pizza? Oooh, the sublimely thin crust!

Eggplant parm grinders! (do my friends in the PNW know what a grinder is)? Bagels that are sublimely chewy on the inside, hard on the outside (that’s what she said). Italian restaurants.  There are no fewer than 12 within a 3-mile radius of me. Most of them outstanding.

Grocery shopping: This takes a little getting used to. Even the most pedestrian Safeways and Albertson's are nicer than the stores here. But at the deli counter, they slice the meat for you, as thick or as thin as you wish. The choices! Also, I have never seen such a selection of Parmesan cheese in my life. Mexican foods are classified as “Spanish” (it also includes Jamaican, Cuban, Caribbean). There’s also a “European” section (British, German, French), and a huge Kosher section.

Nickel returns: Doh! I hate nickel returns! It’s like mandatory recycling!

Driving: Now driving on the freeways (west coast term there) is not so much aggressive as it is assertive. Decisive. Intentional.  The left lane is for passing. On the arterials, I’d give a tank of gas for center turn lanes. If you’re turning left on the Post Road, you get into the left lane. If you’re behind me and want to go straight, you gotta wait. Also, I’ve got two words for city planners here: synchronized lights.  This modern marvel was a given on many urban arterials in the Northwest.

Ray Kelly's, where the bikers go

My neighborhood: I live in Bridgeport, which has a reputation for crime, arsons, vacant factories, but it’s coming around the curve. Really! It's a  tough place to love, which is why I love it: gritty and proud. Reminds me of Tacoma. Despite all of this, my street is so quiet. Black Rock is an awesome neighborhood. It’s quieter than my apartment in Olympia, next to that skanky hobo park. My street is one-third Anglo ("white"); the rest of us are Mexican, black (African American and Caribbean), and a few Asians.

Restaurants (all of this within a 5-block radius):  Chinese, Salvadoran, three pizza places (one is brick oven), southwest, Turkish, Irish, and a taqueria inside of a Mexican grocery (four of those, a Mexican bakery, plus an Indian grocery).

Bars:  10. A lot of people out on the sidewalks at night; some are sober.

“Health salons”: 3 (to my Northwest friends, this is where you get a massage from a hot young Asian babe). Note: All of these health salons were shut down in a crackdown fall 2012.

Barbershops: 4

Tattoo shops: 3

Dunkin’ Donuts (not a Starbucks for miles! Wooo-hooo!)

Pilates

Cineplex

A Mercedes-Porsche-Audi dealership, so the street behind me is like a German auto show on parade. Also, Lexus and Smart Car dealerships nearby.

Black Rock Lighthouse

Observations:  A lot more bikers in CT than in Washington State. Theory: No state helmet law plus drier climate. A lot more mustaches here. Theory: none.

Job: rocks.  I’m building a major gifts program from the ground up. My boss says “I hired you to do the job for your skills. Just do it!” So different from my last job, which had gotten a bit inert.

So it’s a good life here. Family, old friends are easily accessible, and I get to maintain my independence.