Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a place I thought I would never visit. Jonathan grew up there so we just took a trip to take advantage of our off season free time. I have noticed lately that most of my travels have centered around either the two coasts or the Southwest, not taking into consideration Europe here. This was my first true mid-Western experience. Landing in Detroit was much as I had expected, city like, and saw little of the landscape besides the airport and freeway. It was well after ten at night when we arrived, so first impressions were of the nocturnal variety and were limited mostly to the interior of Jonathan's father's house. I was pleasantly surprised at the familiar architecture, post modern and truly 70's. There was a whole neighborhood of this type of housing in Mar Vista (Venice adjacent) where I grew up: odd shaped windows, exposed wood beams, all at the heart of the individualism and extremism. I had a few friends who grew up in houses like these and I always envied their alternative shape and nature. They now seem a bit haphazard in their construction meaning that now they need to be upgraded for the sake of warmth and modern convenience.

Keeping in this theme, Jonathan's Dad told us of when they had a new roof installed and how they added a layer of insulation that makes the house quieter. Then on our last night in town we were hit by a rain storm and I could not imagine how loud it must have been before the new roof. I barely slept more than a hour at a time for the noise was thundering in a rhythmic pattern. I suppose now living in Aspen in a basement I am much more used to snow fall than rain and the two stories above us insult most weather noise. Unfortunately it does little for insulating us against the midnight jam sessions our musician neighbors seem to think are appropriate. Ho hum. One day we will have our own place... hopefully soon. Seeing Jonathan's dad house made me even more longing for such a time.
Ann Arbor made me think about college towns. It is very liberal, revolving around the University of Michigan. It is truly a quaint little college town full of athletic types, intellectual types and artistic types. I kept thinking of how I have once again quit school and will not get that degree for yet another few years. I always loved school and have let the financial barriers keep from completing each time that I set out to return. Perhaps this year I can make that different. Going to a town that centers around scholastic life makes that even more apparent than ever. There is a part of me that longs to live in such a place in which you are completely immersed in the school culture and have little else to deter you from your goals. Not to mention it is a place in which property is still affordable. Now that is a dream... buying a big house! Even back in LA that was a dream. Makes me wonder about the psychological meanings we place on land, neighborhoods or geographical areas. I used to think of places in LA as unlivable because of one thing or another; crime, freeway proximity or distance from the beach. That has been put in to perspective each time I return to where I grew up and see the changes that come with gentrification and also from trips like the one we just took.
I had preconceived notions and opinions about the mid-west without ever having seen what it is really like. I kind of like it. It is simple, normal, refreshing. More thoughts as they come....