The Movers, The Shakers

The times they are a'changing. Rapidly.

I'm in the middle of moving, which is never fun. Even though I'm moving from one neighborhood in San Francisco to another it's a pain. I am not a car owner, so I am dependent on public transportation, rentals, friends and my own feet.

A dear friend of mine is gifting me a bike this weekend - I'm going to become a bike rider! How exciting!

As most of you probably remember - I currently live in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. It's a "raw" and "urban" neighborhood, most commonly described as; "the worst neighborhood in San Francisco". It's filthy and noisy. The streets are almost always busy- people out and about - homeless, adicts, runaways and dealers. I quote my ex-husband: "I think the pee-smell is my favorite".

Last week just walking from my apartment to the corner store and back I saw two drug deals, a tranny hooker and her pimp arguing, a homeless man who had wet himself, and one guy flashed his junk at me.

"These are the people in my neighborhood - in my neighborhood - in my neigh -bor-hood - OH..."

That was after the huge underground explosion that erupted two blocks away.

I'm a tough chick. I think 3.5 years in The Loin has earned me my street cred - but seriously, I'm over it.

I love my apartment. I love how centrally located I am. I love the local dive bars. I love the $2 shiraz my corner store sells. (Might have to pick up a case of that before I go)

But I hate feeling under attack every time I step out of my front door. I hate being treated like an object simply because I have breasts. I hate having to wear earphones to block the sound of the comments yelled at you on the street. I hate the sadness. I hate the hopelessness of the place. I hate seeing people getting sick on the sidewalk, or going to the bathroom between cars because they have no other place to go.

"They're the people that you meet, as you're walking down the street -
They're the people that you meet-

each

DAY!"

I do realize though, why I needed to live there. When I started my life over, I really needed to start it all the way over. I needed to start at the bottom and prove to myself that I could work my way up. It's taken me a while. Quite a while, to come to grips with my past. Some days are better than others.

But I'm leaving The Loin - and I feel like I've worked hard to do exactly that. And I feel like I've earned this new life - with the merit badges to prove it.

My new neighborhood is in Noe Valley. It's clean, fresh, and safe. My place has a lovely patio surrounded by trees and jasmine vines. Birds chirp in the morning. It's quiet. My kitties have plenty of room to run around. I have a huge kitchen I already love cooking in even without all of my supplies there yet. Plants grow under all of the trees because the ammonia of too much urine doesn't kill them. People say hi to you on the street and they aren't asking for money. No one is shooting up heroin or smoking crack. I haven't seen any prostitutes.

I admit - I feel a bit out of my element, but I think I can get used to it!