San Francisco Encore
admin posted this on Oct 19th 2007 under Uncategorized
To save plodding around with a backpack, on my way home for Christmas I am staying for an extended period of time in San Francisco (people who call it Frisco are so sad). Anyway, I am living in a perfectly ordinary flat and I am a normal fully-functioning member of society, I go to work every day, remember to leave the ‘trash’ out on Tuesday evenings, and complain about the parking situation.
Actually, this is a slight misrepresentation because I do not have a job, not least because it would be contrary to the visa waiver arrangement. (Not having a car does not stop me complaining about parking however - it looks like it would be a nightmare for anyone who has to do it.) So, to keep up the illusion, I employ myself in various capacities around the city. My usual routine is to leave the house before those who really do work (this is utterly convincing as long as I can keep up the early starts) and sit in the park until the coast is clear. Lunch sitting on a bench - every other day, at least, since the portions are big enough to go days between meals. One park bench encounter with a gym owner led to a seven day free pass to the local gym, so that has been my afternoon activity for a week (not sure what I’ll do tomorrow).
As I wrote home a few days ago, I am sharing a flat with a lady from Alabama who laughs at my jokes but doesn’t understand them; and a Frenchman who gets my jokes but doesn’t laugh. Things have improved since then and the Frenchman let out a slight smirk when I made an off-the cuff remark the other night (completely unrehearsed, honestly). He claims he was just reminded of something that happened elsewhere, but in my mind it was an unmistakeable breakthrough.
This relaxed lifestyle affords some time to think a bit harder about what I might do on my return to real life scheduled for January 2008. I’ve even experimented with some internet-based projects which could lead somewhere. (I’ve since been advised that browsing the BBC News website is not a possible career - although the two long-term jobs I held in London were evidence to the contrary.)
Remarkably, given the time I’m spending on internet research, I failed to secure a flat with an internet connection. Luckily the neighbours have fairly reliable wireless (don’t worry, the illegality of this set-up is easily overshadowed by my continuing use of cryptographic software). Surely great things must come out of this situation: Bay Area immigrant, lugged his laptop around the world, no-mates, makes internet history using a flaky pirated internet connection - it would make such fantastic newspaper copy that I can’t possibly fail. The likes of such a triumph from adversity have not been seen since Hewlett-Packard grew out of a garage in Palo Alto - and I went to see that too; my garage is dingier.
Just to avoid your possible complicity in an illegal act, I’ve given the neighbours a break and I’m typing this in a cafe. On account of their free wireless, the place has all the ambience of an exam hall. I’m not complaining - I bloody love exams!