1:15 PM Update: Enough procrastination for me for the moment. I'm going to be packing up some books. Please feel free to keep commenting. Once I get a few boxes packed up I'll be back to check in.
I am beginning a journey today to a new place to live. That journey won't take me very far, just from Lansdowne to Northeastern Philadelphia, but it is a move nonetheless. And moving, by its very definition, is a lot of work. But it's not all just packing boxes and lugging furniture. (Unfortunately, that part does still have to be done.) But that's not what this diary series is going to be about. Follow me below the fold to find out more.
I am actually going to be writing to both describe my experience in getting involved with a new Democratic committee in Philadelphia, and to get advice from my fellow Kossacks on how best to get involved and what I can do to be more effective. The Democratic committee I'm leaving behind has been very open and accepting of volunteers. Not only that, but if anyone is looking for a nice quiet place to live near Philadelphia, I would highly recommend Lansdowne. Truly some of the nicest people I've met. If it wasn't for the fact that I can't stay where I am anymore (for reasons I can go into if anyone would like to know), I am moving into the big city.
Now, the Greater Northeast of Philadelphia is not a particularly urban part of the city. In many ways it's a suburb within the city limits. No big skyscrapers or office complexes, but rather, a lot of apartment complexes, malls, and strip malls. I lived in the Greater Northeast with my fiancee after graduating from law school until we passed the bar and thought it would be nice to get back. I also wanted the chance to be involved with big city politics.
If there is anyone out there who knows something of Philadelphia politics, you know that the City Committee is a bit, how to put this delicately, insular. They don't even have a website. But I'm bound and determined to get involved, get active, and bring a little progressive reform to the Committee and to Philadelphia in general. To get started, I e-mailed my Ward Leader, Senator Michael Stack III. I haven't heard back yet, but it's Saturday and the only e-mail listed for him is his office e-mail, so I'm not surprised. But I'll let everyone know in a later diary what I hear back, if anything.
I suppose that's enough for right now. After all, I can't put off boxing up books forever. But I'm going to have some lunch and watch a little History Channel (Wild West Tech marathon!) before I get started, so I'll be here if anyone has any questions, comments, or suggestions. And if you live up in that area, let me know. Maybe we can work together.