Bohemian Rhapsody

My new place is interesting. It's an apartment complex built in the early 70's and it makes me reminisce about the communist block housing in eastern Europe. The complex is an eclectic mix of young professionals, old lesbians, musicians, artists and random detritus of society.

As I was moving in a girl came up to me and asked me if I spoke German. She was getting a tattoo on her back in German and wanted to check the spelling. She showed me the text and although I do not speak German, it appeared to be the collected works of Goethe, due to its apparent length. I assumed the print was going to be very small.

I think about 15 people have asked me where they could get some weed. I don't really think I look like the guy who would know, I just direct them to the guy with the tie dye shirt and the bongos, he might know somebody who could tell them.

Austin is becoming gentrified.The apartment was going to be demolished a few years ago to make way for expensive, hi-rise condominiums. The location of the apartment, downtown, on the river, makes it ideal for a gated yuppie complex. However, due to the downturn in the economy and some zoning issues, it has been pushed back for at least three years. This means the complex carries a sense of finale, the Goths are approaching and they have their Range Rovers and fancy running sneakers at the ready.

The apartment complex is not fancy, it would even be hard to describe it as "clean". It is what I think Austin is, or maybe was at some point. A city with a unique culture and perspective, but not in an overarching , homogeneous sense. Texas is different than the rest of the United States and Austin is different from the rest of Texas. I'll never be a Texan, but I could become an Austinite.