I'm Tired of the City Life...

Its too damn hot

“I’m tired of the city life, summers on the run
People tell me I should stay,
But I got to get my fun
Don’t try and hold me back
Aint nothing you can say
Snakes eyes on a pair of dice
And we’ve got to go to day…”

‘April Sun In Cuba’ - Dragon

I’m tired. It has been so hot here lately; it drains any energy, creativity or inspiration right out of me and leaves me feeling washed out and cranky. I’m tired of the city. Scratch that; I’m tired of a lot of the city dwellers. They litter and waste with impunity, they don’t have any regard for anyone else, they think it is their right to make as much noise as they possibly can, regardless of how late at night or how early in the morning it is and they are rude to boot. I can’t believe how rude some people can be. Not a ‘please’ or a ‘thankyou’ ever passes their lips. They push and shove and jump queues and then rant at you if you protest. I'm not a confrontational person but I refuse to be a doormat. So I say something and all I get back is "Fuck you, arsehole." This doesn't make me angry, it just makes me sad.

I want to blame the city; I want to blame the heat. I want to blame anything else but the people because I do believe in people, as a whole. But I’m kidding myself. When I see drivers throwing angry words and hand gestures at pedestrians on zebra crossings despite the pedestrians having the right of way, who can I blame? When I see school kids knocking older ladies down and speeding off on their skateboards without a backward glance, who can I blame? When I see shoppers who blatantly park in disabled car parks so they don’t have to walk so far to their favourite cafe, who can I blame? When I see older people who should know better smoking cigarettes then flicking their butts onto the sidewalk or into the gutters to be washed out to sea in the next rain, who can I blame? When it comes down to it, I can only blame people. But these days, ignorance seems to be excusable and cantankerousness an acceptable state of being.

I hear people say life in the country is different, that folk ‘out there’ are more polite, more forgiving and more down-to-earth. Then I read about yet another multiple murder on some remote property or some small country town and I start to wonder. I read about high unemployment, high suicide rates, high rates of alcohol-related violence and I start to wonder. I read about rural communities suffering because they’ve become part of the forgotten constituency, with politicians concentrating more effort on ensuring city infrastructures are maintained and I start to wonder. I read about country hospitals and schools suffering, of community-based programs suffering and I start to wonder. Would life really be any better or is it fallacies due to all that fresh air going to one’s head? If the city can hide me among the faces of thousands of others, then the country will surely make me stand out. If the city can provide me with more opportunities to have my say then surely the country will limit those immensely. I don’t know and I don’t profess to know. All I feel is tired; tired of not being able to say anything to defend my environment. I’ll feel better once things cool down, but for now, I’m tired.
2,683 views 4 replies
Reply #1 Top

The latest one from the outback reminded me (perhaps because I recently saw it) of Wolf Creek.

Any place has murders.  Cities tend to have a lot more, and so that is not major news.  When one pops up in a rural area, that makes news.

Reply #2 Top
I've lived in both, although really not in any major city. They both have their good and bad points, but I have to say I prefer the country or atleast small town life. Heh, you know they say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence so I suppose you got be what you're gonna be wherever you're at.

Or, as Erma Bombeck once said, maybe the grass is greener because it's over the septic tank...
Reply #3 Top
I hear ya Maso. I understand how people being the way they are can make it all seem so futile. They're in a hurry, no one has any manners or respect. They seem to somehow forget what it is to be humane. Perhaps it's just the heat like you said. At least we hope it is don't we. We hope humanity hasn't lost itself.

We've been cooler than usual here in Florida and wearing a sweater has become the norm lately. Our hot sunny days will be back in full force soon though. I really don't mind when it cools off.
Reply #4 Top
Doc; yeah, I know everywhere has bad that happens. I was ranting a little more about the loss, as I see it, of the more wholesome traits that used to exist, which have been replaced by a sad lack of tolerance, compassion and politeness. I don't usually let this bother me but it did last week.

Shovel; thanks mate. I don't suppose there is anywhere I can go that won't have its bad as well as good points. Having lived in cities or at best, large towns, I'm not sure the rural life is one I'd pursue. I think I just need a vacation (I have a three week one coming up very soon). BTW, love the Bombeck quote.

Serenity; manners, respect, tolerence, compassion... These seem to be traits I see less and less of, having been replaced with materialism, selfishness and egocentric behaviour. You're right too, I do hope for humanity. I believe we're a lot more than the sum of our possessions, for instance. It just seems these days we're bombarded with display after display of overt material wealth. No wonder some people feel completely dissatisfied with their lot.