Unhappy with where you live? Perhaps you seek the geographical cure.
For those unfamiliar with the term, the geographical cure is exactly that. It is leaving one’s current place of residence and moving to another with the hopes that one’s “new” life will be better than the “old.”
In my discussions with fellow soon-to-be college graduates, the geographical cure is a frequent topic. After graduation, when no longer tied to a specific place, we are suddenly given the freedom to choose where we want to live. What we do with that freedom greatly depends on personal constitution.
For the frustrated or idealistic, the geographical cure is often the best solution. They go out and seek greener pastures. For the cautious or pragmatic, the geographical cure is at best a delusion. They dig in, continuing the life they’ve built these past four (or more) years.
Admittedly, none of this is particularly revelatory. Humans have been migrating from place to place for many thousands of years, and even within our modern context these underlying motivations remain largely the same.
So, instead of commenting on why people leave or stay in general, I would like to comment on why people leave or stay in Phoenix specifically.
I have often heard residents complain that Phoenix has no passion. “There is no culture, there is no movement, there is no soul!” they say. And a few years ago, I would have agreed. Yet much has changed since then. Now, for a variety of reasons, Phoenix has plenty of passion.
Phoenix just has no idea what to do with it.
Case in point: I was at a concert recently. The music being played was dance music, and I stupidly expected there to be, I don’t know, people dancing.
This was not necessarily the case. Dancing did occur, but it was a slow-burn; it started with a few brave souls, moved to small groups, and finally, by the end of the night, most of the people in the venue were on their feet. The concert-goers were hesitant for half the show, but after following some shining examples subsequently cut loose.
Phoenicians are hungry, or at least the young folks. They demand action. If the city was that concert, some leave, frustrated that no one is dancing, hoping there is dancing elsewhere. But many remain, waiting in the wings for someone else to make the first move.
Phoenix is a city waiting for someone else to make the first move. The temporary residents don’t have enough patience to wait and therefore go elsewhere while the permanent residents stay but do nothing and complain that they live in a city without passion.
So, I’m not for or against the geographical cure. I’m just glad there are the few brave souls who start dancing first, in whatever city or town they happen to live in.
Alex respects Billy Idol for dancing with himself, and can be reached at apetruse@asu.edu
