I live in Seattle. I love Seattle. I've been all over the United States and Seattle is home. It's blue as the sea that surrounds it, it has good coffee. 'Nuff said.
I am in Charleston, South Carolina today. It is my first visit to the deep South.
Last night, my first night here, a secession ball was held in town. Today, as I visited this stunningly beautiful city, seeing for the first time the Spanish moss and palmettos that I've read of in Pat Conroy and Margaret Mitchell, I also see civil war statues everywhere.
I heard a South Carolinian refer to the war half jokingly as "the war of Northern aggression" (by my Republican brother in law. This whole household is Republican as all get out.)
How conservative is it here?
I checked, and it seems it's been predominantly whatever party currently does not love progressives. That is, Democrat until mid-century; then Republican.
Here's my question to South Carolinian progressives;
How is it to live here?
Because grim slavery history and republicanism aside, this place is insanely beautiful, drenched in history, full of people that seem really friendly and nice, and there are homes, really decent homes, for $150,000. It's warm, it's sunny, there's the ocean right there, and it's pretty diverse. There are colleges. The in-laws are after us to move here, regardless of our (much decried) political proclivities.
Can a blue-state, left-coast progressive feel happy and at home here?
The biggest reason I love Seattle is that I feel culturally at home. There are Obama stickers on every third car some districts. I am a bird of blue Seattle feather, and I enjoy the presence of the flock.
I grew up in Eastern Washington. It, too, is sunny, beautiful, inexpensive and friendly. But always underneath I felt out of place, surrounded by hostiles, and outnumbered because Eastern Washington is very, very conservative. It's an uncomfortable feeling, and I don't miss it.
I by no means want to disparage a state I have been in for roughly 24 hours, or get all superior or anything, and I hope it doesn't sound that way. Please take it in the spirit intended, which is sincere interest. The whole state doesn't have to be blue for me to be content. I could live in Austin, for example. But I need some progressiveness, or I will be lonely.
Not a hard-hitting diary by any means, just a question to other Kossacks. I can't think of a better crew to ask.