On Friday,
my wife and I flew from San Diego to New York City. What a difference. Of
course the weather went from balmy to nippy, but that was the least the change.
We actually left Pacific Beach for Manhattan. Pacific Beach may be the most laid-back
community in laid-back California, and Manhattan the most intense district in
the country. Over the weekend we rushed from one venue to another to watch our
grandchildren play sports, dance ballet, attend professional sporting events, and
shuffle between birthday parties and sleep-overs. Several scheduled activities
were cancelled because the nerds at MIT haven’t yet figured out a way to
be in two places at once. This was a long way from a long yawn as I checked out
the waves trying to decide if I wanted to go surfing now or in an hour when the
tide would be better. Perhaps all the clichés about Southern California and New
York are true.
 |
| Manhattan |
 |
| Pacific Beach |
I did some
googling to see what others thought.
The Urban
Dictionary defines laid-back as: “Repressive, apathetic, does not care enough,
brain dead, has no pulse, unlively, passive or passive aggressive, not caring
enough, slow paced, follower mind set, compatable, middle american, lack of
passion, lack of drive, bland, boring, white bread american.” (sic)
The Free Dictionary
defines laid-back as: “Having a relaxed or casual atmosphere or character;
easygoing.”
I’m guessing
the first definition was written by a New Yorker on an iPhone while racing on
foot to an appointment, while the second was written by a beach bum drinking a Stone
IPA at a strand-side bar.
Whoops, maybe I just reinforced those clichés.
