I love Philly, and I also kind of love the fact that so many people other people hate it. I can totally understand why other people don't like it here, in a lot of ways, this city doesn't even try. If you are open to liking Philly, there's a lot you have to discover for yourself. It's not a destination city like New York or San Francisco. But I don't want to live in New York or San Francisco, because both of them are too expensive, New York is too overwhelming and San Francisco is too far away. I have been to most of the states in this country, and this is the place where I feel most comfortable. Yes, it's a dirty city with a corrupt government, high crime, and rude people. But it's also a city full of greenspaces and history and some of the most awesome people I have ever met. And I feel like I'm part of a secret club of other people who see Philly in this light.

I never thought I would live in a city other than New York. In fact, when I first moved here, I was full of complaints about how small everything is and how early everything closes. At my first job in Philly, I satrted a lot of sentences with, "Well, in New York. . ." and was greeted with faces that pretty much said, "Bitch, if New York is so great, why don't you go back there?" I figured every young person who lives here would rather be in New York, if it wasn't so expensive. Imagine my surprise when I found that lots of people here actually don't like New York at all. I still think New York's an awesome city, but the longer I stay in Philly, the more I know that New York is not my city. It's really hard to make New York your own city, because so many people want a piece of that city. It's a lot easier to make an imprint here, as Center City Philly is really just a big small town.

Sometimes I feel like the only person in America without a raging hard-on for the West Coast. I definitely appreciate the beauty I have seen out there, but whenever I'm there I feel a certain kind of rootlessness that lets me know it's not my home. People are always shocked to hear that I'm not interested in the West Coast. It seems like when you live in Philly, you're supposed to acknowlege that you want to be somewhere else; you're supposed defer to the "great" cities and yearn for nicer weather or whatever. But guess what, I don't. West Coast, I'm just not that into you.

I know I can't convince most people that Philly is a great place to be, and like my city, I'm not sure I really want to try. Philly turned out to be the perfect fit for me: I love history. I love tiny cobblestone streets and three hundred year old rowhomes and Ben Franklin memorobilia. I also love distinct seasons, especially crunching pretty colored leaves in the fall. I love being home drinking hot chocolate while it snows outside. I love the first days of spring when the city comes alive. I love winter fashion. I love that even though a lot of people think I'm out of my mind, there are others here who understand.