Getting through to San Antonio's 'coffee cup' of collective consciousness (Dallas: appointed, fit in)

[5Fingaz]

The recently bereft thread pertaining to San Antonio versus Austin -- specifically, addressing the numerous and capacious differences between these two cities produced some very interesting observations, opinions, and disquisition. However, I must address some of the erroneous judgements and conclusions, and the swift, sweeping generalizations some of you made in regards to those of us who have trouble adapting to San Antonio's overall mentality and culture.

First of all, the issue of whether or not someone finds happiness in a place or "vibes" a city or regions' cultural standard is a relatively complex issue; it's easy to pass judgement on someone personally and make snap judgements on their character rather than logically examine the reasons behind their unhappiness. The latter takes rationality.

As someone who has not found happiness in San Antonio, and as someone who does not fit in with San Antonio's 'coffee cup' of collective consciousness, I'd like to take this opportunity to debunk some of the character judgements and illogical statements expressed in the aforementioned thread.

I realize making the best of what you've got and acknowledging an areas strengths rather than its weaknesses is important in ultimately finding happiness in a particular place. However, I also realize, as one poster put it, that San Antonio predominately caters to a "Spurs-loving/barbecue attending/family and faith focused/hispanic-culture-loving" set, and doesn't offer much else for someone who does not subscribe to or relate to this kind of cultural mindset and interest.

When myself and a few others expressed our disappointment with San Antonio's lack of culture and the general lack of quality associated with San Antonio's cultural offerings, many of you were quick to point out that it's ridiculous to compare San Antonio and it's cultural amenities to world class or global cities. Fair enough. However, is it so unfathomable that one would expect cultural offerings on par with other cities of similar size or even smaller cities? I think not.

As someone who craves diversity, multiculturalism, and variety (this encompasses everything, not just in regards to culture), I find it rather peculiar that many of you who claim to be well rounded, and well traveled, can find these qualities in San Antonio and south Texas.

Granted, with its proximity to Mexico and the historic circumstances around its founding, San Antonio's overwhelming cultural influences would naturally be Hispanic/Mexican in nature. This, was not, however, the totality of my complaints with this cities' cultural diversity. It also had something to do with the quality and depth of the cities available cultural offerings.

Yes, Boston, for instance, has a very sizable Irish population, and is greatly influenced by Irish culture. However, as someone who has actually experienced first hand what Boston offers in terms of cultural refinement, I'd be personally perplexed if someone were to assert that San Antonio offers refinement of the same caliber.

Just as I would if the said attribute was said to be on par with Minneapolis, Seattle, or San Francisco, which, like Boston, are all smaller than San Antonio. This I think is where the most significant difference between people who find happiness here and those who don't arises; people who don't find happiness here expect that San Antonio would offer, at best, cultural stimulation on par with other cities of similar size, and naturally the aforementioned smaller cities. Those who do find happiness either don't care, or haven't experienced culture outside the realm of San Antonio or south Texas, and so therefore don't have any real experience with which to draw from.

So, that's why I personally don't get the personality judgements in regards to finding happiness here, because, really, it has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with ones own expectations; it has to do with what one finds stimulating, enlightening, and interesting; it has to do with how one "vibes" or connects with the populous at large of a particular place.

It has nothing to do with superiority or a "holier-than-thou" attitude. I've never referred to anyone who enjoys life here or fits in here, as "uncultured", "uneducated", or "unsophisticated"; those were are self-appointed adjectives. What I did assert, however, is that for someone who has traveled the continental US or world, and employs a wide variety of cultural interests, may find San Antonio to be rather parochial and limited in it's overall mentality and in its cultural amenities.

Yes, it's true that culture and refinement do not provide "food, clothing, and a home to raise your family", as one poster stated. What it does do, however, is add to the overall quality of life in a particular place, and makes life there interesting; ultimately giving one something to get out of bed everyday and be excited about.

This is in part why myself (and perhaps hello13685) find life in San Antonio to be so dreary and unstimulating. I mean, how many times can one go to the Witte and stare at the single Monet? How many nights eating out at taquerias and Bill Miller Bar-B-Q's does it take for one to become tired and demand more?

In summation, I wholeheartedly agree that it's foolish to expect San Antonio, or any other US city (outside of New York and possibly Los Angeles) to have culture on par with older and much more established cities of Rome, Paris, or London, and the like. But, it certainly is not unrealistic or out of touch for someone to expect that San Antonio's cultural resources would be better than what they are, and closer in quality to other similarly sized cities and metropolitan areas.

However, I must admit that I find this recurring suggestion to "pack up and leave" if you don't like San Antonio to be really perplexing. As I stated before, if everyone who didn't like San Antonio, or who had different expectations in regards to culture, and the quality of such culture, packed up and left, how would that create diversity or variety and ultimately lead to change?

Some of you may see San Antonio and it's collective consciousness to be one of "live and let live", but personally, having experienced the defensiveness of those I've expressed these dissatisfactions with (on this forum and in person), I wonder how anyone can say that San Antonio demonstrates anything but an overwhelming conformist outlook.

Texas is a conservative state and San Antonio has historically been a conservative city (and very much still is). The core notion of conservatism is built around an aversion to change. I see this aversion to change everywhere around me in San Antonio -- an unwillingness to acknowledge and improve the mediocre dining, art, music, and social avenues; an unwillingness to consider, for a moment, other viewpoints that question the "status quo"; and an unwillingness to look to and expand ones horizons beyond San Antonio and south Texas to form a personal point of view.

These points to me explain why San Antonio is largely unchanged and still very much the city it was ten, twenty, even thirty years ago.

Some of you will agree with me and others will not. Nonetheless, I look forward to civilly discussing the matter and hope I have clarified my position on the matter.

[sapphire]

OMG you actually expect people to read that, don't you?

[NEsananto]

Is it a slow workday?

E: Or are you "Lookingtoleave" under a different name?

[cr1039]

""Texas is a conservative state and San Antonio has historically been a conservative city (and very much still is). The core notion of conservatism is built around an aversion to change. I see this aversion to change everywhere around me in San Antonio -- an unwillingness to acknowledge and improve the mediocre dining, art, music, and social avenues; an unwillingness to consider, for a moment, other viewpoints that question the "status quo"; and an unwillingness to look to and expand ones horizons beyond San Antonio and south Texas to form a personal point of view.""



Well said 5Fingaz. I moved here from Dallas three years ago (and also travel often) and I agree with you completely.

Being an "Arts and Culture" coordinator for a non-profit here in SA I work with many committees and community members who have a very different idea of what is interesting and worthwile. These of course are people who have spent their lives in SA.

[Mister]

Originally Posted by 5Fingaz

Just as I would if the said attribute was said to be on par with Minneapolis, Seattle, or San Francisco, which, like Boston, are all smaller than San Antonio.

Minneapolis: lengthy, sub-zero winters and collapsing bridges

Seattle: dreary, rainy days and rioting anarchists

San Francisco: unaffordable housing, earthquakes and naked hippies on the streets

Boston: 40 inches of snow a year and the Boston Freaking Red Sox

Whaddya know, seems there's always bad to go with the good wherever you live. The beautiful thing about this wonderfully diverse country is that you're free to live anywhere you'd like as long as you're 18 and not incarcerated or wearing Uncle Sam's boots.

[quest51210]

Keep san antonio lame

[hello13685]

It has kind of occurred to me recently as well that conformity might be a cultural value in South Texas (maybe Mexico, too?). This would explain--or be reflected in--the family or tribe (i.e., "Texan") anchor, and may be a root cause of a lack of progression in many areas, including the arts, etc. It's indeed very interesting to ponder this. Thanks for your post, 5fingaz.

P.S. I'll take naked hippies over the megachurches or the "I love my H.E.B." brainwash mantra any day

[Turtle_Mom]

Many, many things could be said....

As I've discovered (thanks to members of this forum!) San Antonio is a larger city - but it has a smaller metropolis than the other cities mentioned. We spread out much further, and those people who move here usually are moving for things like land, lower cost of living, ability to be close to nature and have animals. They will probably not move out here (edit - the outlying areas, acreage etc.) for museums, theater and dining options. And what I think, and it doesn't sound like you accept this - it's ok if someone doesn't want to be "cultured." I also think one person's idea of culture and entertainment can be different than someone else's. And I have no problem with that.

As for my countless nights eating at taquerias and Bill Miller - I haven't been to either one since living here in SA. (Unless a Taco Cabana breakfast taco counts.) I live for other reasons I guess. I make meals with my family and spend time with them. I don't stare longingly at a Monet wishing for more, I take my children to parks, museums, watch movies, go for nature walks, travel 2-3x a year to new places, play board games, read exciting books, research new things on the internet, star-gaze, go camping, play musical instruments, watch Avatar cartoons, do crafts and arts projects, garden, decorate, go on bug hunts, and so much more.

The quality of your life is dependent on how you live it. I am happy with my life, and truthfully would be happy most places I would have to move. I don't rely on exterior forces to qualify my life as one worth living.

And the pack up and go mentality works for me. Why complain about your current situtation if you don't like it? Are you on any committees for Arts in Education or Cultural Events? If you aren't willing to part of the solution, then don't cause problems.

[Mister]

Originally Posted by Turtle_Mom

As I've discovered (thanks to members of this forum!) San Antonio is a larger city - but it has a relatively smaller metropolis than the other cities mentioned.

Comparing Metropolitan Statistical Areas, it's clear that San Antonio is much smaller than the cities mentioned above.

Sorted by rank:
10) Boston-Cambridge-Quincy: 4.5 million
12) San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont: 4.2 million
15) Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia: 3.3 million
16) Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington: 3.2 million
28) San Antonio: 2 million

[Mister]

Originally Posted by Turtle_Mom

The quality of your life is dependent on how you live it. I am happy with my life, and truthfully would be happy most places I would have to move. I don't rely on exterior forces to qualify my life as one worth living.

My sentiments exactly. I've lived here for less than 2 years, but I'm happy. The city itself has little to do with it. I could be happy almost anywhere, regardless of the restaurants, nightlife, museums or "culture."