If I could live anywhere? Japan.
Yes, I am yet another Western “Weeaboo,” meaning I love animanga and samurai and the Metal Gear series a little too much. I enjoy Japanese culture as well as the wisdom and artistic direction of acclaimed Japanese creators such as Hideo Kojima, Yoshihiro Togashi, Kentaro Miura, Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Kurosawa, among many others.
In truth there are many reasons, but I’d most desire to live in Japan for the transcendent public transportation!
High-tech, high-speed rail. Bullet trains. Perfect schedules. This is what I desire from my metropolitan experience. Well-designed cityscapes that favor walkability, cleanliness, and sociable urban exploration too. // These urban wonderland features can be found in various European zones as well and they’d be high on my list: Florence, Rome, Prague, Budapest. London or Paris for the deepest lore.
The learning of another language – such as Japanese, Italian, or otherwise – may be in store for my dream locales. But that is part of the deal, another aspect to the expansiveness of a dream. You must transform yourself to fit the vision. // Myself being a typically unseasoned international traveler means I am liable to change my mind in the end and wish to stay stateside in America. In which case, San Diego, California would do nicely.
Dreams aside, for now, I will continue to wait for the *promised-yet-undelivered* giant high-speed rail line going between Dallas-Austin-Houston to be built here in the Lone Star State. One day soon…
Godspeed,
Dylan Orosz
P.S. Japan is home to one of the “Blue Zones” ~ areas of natural living and enhanced happiness, healthiness, and longevity. Good sensible ways and means of living, perfect climates and plentiful resources. Seek out the truths of their other commonalities for yourself:
Dylan Orosz 