For the last few weeks, I have been in hibernation.
So far this summer, temperatures have been solidly above average, and it's put my traditional "live blogging" on somewhat of a hiatus.
About ten days ago, the air-conditioning in my car tanked, and after I got it replaced, the transmission overheated. I got that fixed for over $1500, then the battery died. After the battery was replaced, I blew a tire. F my life. The mechanic told me point blank, "If you don't have to drive in this weather ... don't. We make a lot of money this time of year because these temperatures destroy cars."
Fair enough. I've more or less stopped going anywhere during the day.
Driving in the heat costs me thousands of dollars, standing at the bus stop in 112 degree temps does not appeal to me, and walking is also a no-go. I've wanted to do some live interactive video things, and I will, but not until September or October. Hopefully while based in a hotel room.
Some people think that the climate thing is overblown and is no big deal. They opine that it's all a bunch of whining (and I will concede that it is), but let me give you a quick example of what all of this can do to a honky:
A few nights ago, I woke up shivering. I mean ... literally shivering like I had hypothermia. I went over to the thermostat in my hallway, and I saw that the temperature had fallen to 81 degrees. EIGHTY ONE DEGREES ... and I was shivering. After weeks of 110+ degree temps outdoors and 90 degree temps indoors, my body has completely lost its ability to warm itself. It has shifted all of its resources to internal cooling. I am so used to the ambient temperature being near, or higher than my internal temperature, that the physiological processes within that convert calories to heat have completely shut down.
This is not healthy.
The only thing that allows me to keep my sanity in all of this is the knowledge that I won't have to put up with it much longer.
As most people are aware, I will be moving in the near future. I will be heading north and west. Portland, Olympia, Seattle ... I'm going to spend some time in each place and settle in one of them. Hell, I'd even like to take a stab at Vancouver. I think I'd rather like being a Canadian, but I'm not sure they'd be quite as thrilled about having me. I did make fun of their stupid "duck coin" after all.
Anyway, as you can imagine, news of my move has been met with mixed reactions.
While the vast majority of people have been supportive, my revelation has been met with critique by more than a few detractors. The criticism has followed a somewhat predictable pattern, and so as not to seem unappreciative of the feedback or concern, allow me to address some of the more common points friends and readers have raised.
"Rex, I know you think you hate the sun and the heat, but trust me, you'll get just as sick of the rain."
The notion that I am going to somehow melt or run around wringing my hands in panic when it rains in the Pacific Northwest is unfounded.
I grew up in Washington, DC and New York City. I lived in these two cities until my early 30's. Since I was born in DC, and spent 22 years of my life there ... I consider it my "real" hometown.
I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but DC gets 40 inches of rain per year. This is more rain accumulation than both Seattle and Portland. In addition, on average, it rains roughly one out of every 3 days in The District of Coumbia. This is not quite as frequent as the Northwest, but it's pretty close, and DC rain is year-round. The Northwest almost completely dries out in the summer.
The Mid-Atlantic is home to many different types of weather ... thunderstorms, floods, blizzards, hurricanes ... we got it all. I surfed in hurricanes and delivered documents as a bicycle messenger in 12 inches of snow. Drizzle is not going to phase me. Simply put, PNW weather is still pretty wimpy compared to what I lived in for the majority of my life.
"Rex, the grass is always greener. You just think you want to move because you are sick of Vegas right now. If you move, you will see that it's not so bad."
This is one of the more common rebuttals, and for some reason, it's the one that surprises me the most. Not because I disagree with the statement, but because this is precisely what I want to happen.
I want the grass to be greener. I want to pine for Las Vegas again. I get jealous of the people who email me, excited about their upcoming trips to the place where I live. I used to look forward to it, and I want to look forward to it again. I cannot do that from here.
I'm aware that, once I leave, I will probably realize that living in Las Vegas is "not so bad after all". This realization is completely by design, however. It is exactly the point of my moving. Of course I will miss being 5 minutes from the Wynn and Downtown. I want to feel that void, and lately, weekends away just don't do it anymore.
If, after some time away, I realize that Vegas really is the greatest place in the world to live ... I'll promptly move back. I am flexible enough to be able to do things like this. It's a 20 hour drive. A 2 hour flight. I can move back in a week if I so desire, and moving out of here will put me in the unique position of being able to compare and contrast quite accurately how big of a draw Las Vegas really is from a residential point of view.
I am not naive. I understand human psychology. Of course the grass is always greener. That's why you have to jump over the fence every now and then and trample someone else's yard. You need to let the sun shine on your own yard, let the dog shit fester, and give it time to grow. It won't be able to do this with you walking on it all day.
Comments
Bassti
2010-07-27this stripskylinepicture for this post on your website rex is sooo confusing...CC looks like its in front of encore...
Slaps
2010-07-27CC is not even in that picture.
I would love to read trip reports from your visits to Vegas a tourist Rex.
8rain
2010-07-28Best of luck, Rex. Enjoyed reading your Vegas-as-home posts for years, and look forward to the next phase.
Patty
2010-07-28Best of luck, gonna miss your posts.
Fred
2010-07-28Hey, we'll miss your posts. I say revive Vegas by bringing back the $1.99 steak and egg breakfasts.
pinstripes
2010-07-28Hey Rex I told you last time, it's not a duck coin it's a loon coin! Best of luck of luck wherever you land eh!
Rex
2010-07-28Thanks guys, but I will continue blogging here and on the VR site as I always have. My nerd cave will simply be at a different latitude and I will be spending more time going through McCarran.
tunadz
2010-07-28For christ's sake, I could blog las vegas as a tourist, my sixtieth trip is coming up in September. I have no idea how you could keep it interesting telling us about the third world country of McCarran looking for a dictator, but best of luck.
I will miss the photos; move to Prescott and blog their situation. I will join you for a drink in three years.
Nashdale
2010-07-28Thanks for you blog posts of Vegas, I will miss them. I enjoy reading them over here in Sydney, Austrlia. They keep my interest up for the 51 weeks of the year when I am dreaming of my next annual trip to Vegas.
par8888
2010-07-28Thanks for all your posts Rex. In case you haven't seen it, Grump gave you a farewell post -
http://pokergrump.blogspot.com/2010/07/thanks-rex.html
Ted Newkirk
2010-07-28Olympia will freak you out because it is too small. Seattle/Tacoma is too big, hard to make your mark. PDX is still pretty damn quirky and holds some of the smaller "big city" feelings you find in Las Vegas. Plus, the mass transit totally kicks ass. Live on the near east side near one of the major cross streets (or even better, close to the MAX light rail), and you really won't need a car except for long trips. And MAX serves the airport.
I'm not blowing smoke in saying that if you had been doing your blog in Portland for the same amount of time as here, you'd be very well known and lauded among your peers.
Plus, that whole grunge thing really passed over Las Vegas. (I know because I moved here in 1993). Too hot for the look. The depressing, introspective music never took hold here. Hair metal held on here until later in the '90's as numerious people from that genre (Vince Neil, Kevin DuBrow, Paul Gilbert) moved here. Plus the residency of Slaughter.
IE, if you are looking for a place you can dress grunge, be depressed, and ride mass transit all over, LAS isn't it.
Oh... I've dealt with the summer night shivers more than once. No question, your entire body changes. Anything under 70 is cold, anything under 50 is freezing to me. But 100 doesn't faze me and 110 is bearable if I'm not out in it all day. When I'm up in PDX, it will be 72 and sunny and everybody will be saying what a beautiful day is. I'll have long pants on and feel a chill.
If you do leave, I wish the best. Blogging as a visitor might actually be great for you. I think people read you to hear about Vegas, not so much to hear about how you hate the cops.
Some of the most prominent bloggers and podcasters about this town don't live here. Sometimes I'm holed up behind the desk for stretches at a time without doing "Vegas" stuff. If it weren't for the view of 2/3 of The Strip from the street leading up to my house, I could be anywhere.
No question that you have me rolling my eyes on a regular basis. And I've expressed that at times. But not out of animosity.
You might actually end up being one of PDX's most successful bloggers while actually improving your Vegas blog with the new "I'm a happy visitor" perspective. And like you said, it is an easy 2 hour flight. I've bopped up to PDX unannounced for Mothers Day in the past. No big deal.
I wish you well.
Bassti
2010-07-28im sorry slaps but i meant circus circus by cc...
GuyNotes
2010-07-28I will welcome reading your comments on any city you decide to call the next Rexville! Sadly, we all think the grass is greener, but then find it full of crabgrass, bugs and rot..Best of luck
RW
2010-07-28I'd kind of miss your day to day perspective on Vegas Rex but all power to you on a move. Do what makes you happy.As a Vancouver resident it would be interesting to read comments on my town, if you should ever show up this way. Good luck to you. I'll still be reading regardless.
MarkS
2010-07-28Huge fan of this blog/Rex's writing style, but I have to admit to being thrilled Rex is moving. He makes me feel like shit fairly routinely these days for enjoying living in Green Valley/Vegas. Hopefully he can shit in some Oregonites mouths for a while and give Vegas locals a break from the bummerville this blog had become. Best of luck on the move.
HillBilly
2010-07-28The Pacific Northwest is just the ticket for a burned up desert dweller. I find the rain and overcast atmosphere very relaxing and dude, you could use some relaxing. Unlike most folks that just complain about their situation, you have recognized a problem and are doing something about it. The rest of us can only dream of the kind of freedom where you can pick up and move around at will. It's your writing and perspective that keep us reading, a change in location isn't going to change that.
MrCdnVegas
2010-07-28Rex
We'll take you in Canada...for little bit anyway. :)
Vancouver might be interesting for the blog. Not only will you have Vegas back as a travel spot, not home, but you would also have the whole experience of living in a different country.
Yes I know Vancouver it's not as extereme as moving to Europe or the far East but I think you would find it to be very differnt to what you have experienced in East/West Coast USA.
Joe in Vegas
2010-07-29I have a slightly different take on Rex's departure: I don't think it's quite a case of the grass is greener. Rex has spent the last several months shitting on Las Vegas to make it easier to leave. He's built it up as a crappy place to justify his decision.
That said, he will be missed, and I do like the blog.
John
2010-07-29Check this out! The history of Vegas!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Las_Vegas#1930.E2.80.931941:_Hoover_Dam_and_the_first_casinos
J.Louise
2010-07-29Rex, I cannot imagine you leaving Las Vegas. Best of luck whatever you decide.
Juan Kerr
2010-07-29BYE !!!
Sam
2010-07-29I moved to Salem/Portland area in January from central Florida and haven't regretted it one bit. Weather is a near-miracle here and I've been to Vegas four times already. Extremely convenient to get to and the flight over the Cascade mountains takes your breath away.
Stacey
2010-07-29I've yet to visit the PNW and I still love Vegas, but I can think of many reasons why the PNW would rule over Vegas. Weather being at the top of the list.
Good luck!
Bluejack
2010-07-29Some things to prepare for.
(1) Online Gambling is technically illegal in Washington State.
(2) Many online poker sites refuse players from Washington State.
(3) It's not the rain, it's the dark. It is overcast about 80% of the time from Halloween to July 4th. Add to that the short days and shallow angle of the sun due to high latitude, and brother, it's DARK.
Settling in the pacific northwest, you will be well advised to stock up on full spectrum sun lamps and vitamin D.
July, Aug, Sept, and Oct, however are pure paradise.
el cid
2010-07-30Bummer to see you leave Vegas. My bro and I love your stuff and have become big fans. Keep it real in the Pac NW.
el cid
StevenOfBaltimore
2010-07-30You'll be back...