Revisiting Finding the Time

February 19, 2025

How do you have the energy to go to so many shows a week? I am not trying to flex or anything. In an old blog post I wrote about finding the time, the answer it seems is there is always this tension between the day job and the art. Whether it is making art or attending events, you don’t find the time, you make the time to do what you want to do as a creative person.

And yet the way I frame this ignores the fact not all of us have the luxury of time to work only our 40 hours, clock-in, clock-out and go home then go out again. I work weekends too, although thankfully my hours are 9 to 5. What I don’t mention is the real reason why I have made it a habit of going out so much is I deeply dislike being at home alone by myself. A sort of existential dread of staying home for the evening keeps me motivated to go out. I find myself thinking, what is the alternative?

I’m reminded of a quote by Kyoishi Tzusuki published in his 1999 book, Tokyo: A Certain Style:

Sure, for the same amount of money, we could rent much larger places way out in the burbs. And yet we consciously opt for living in tiny cubbyholes right in the heart of the city. Well, first of all, Tokyo is a safe city. Safe enough for a girl to throw a coat over her pajamas and head out to the corner convenience store in the middle of the night. Safe enough for a drunk to fall asleep by the side of the road with his wallet sticking out of his pocket. Almost never will any harm come to either of them. So if that’s the case, why not get yourself a one-room pad close by your favorite bookstores and boutiques and restaurants and watering holes? You can use your neighborhood as your extended living room. At least in this city, there are plenty of happy folks who think that’s really the life!

Although I live in Seattle, not Tokyo, the concept is the same. No matter what you hear, Seattle is not dying by any means. If you pick the right neighborhood centrally located (Downtown, Capitol Hill, or First Hill where I live), you can get to almost any corner of the city within 30 minutes by bus or bicycle. The rest is up to you to check the calendars and subscribe to the email lists but most of all follow your ear.