Neptune Landing

PLACE Facebook was all abuzz earlier last month with a geography/personality test launched by TIME Magazine. You answer a few questions about your philosophy and lifestyle and their website spits out the name of the appropriate state that fits YOU. Although the logarithm is a bit faulty (e.g. Why does this rag suggest I spend my yankee days and nights in Georgia?), the idea is quite fascinating. Blue Heron at McLaren Park Reservoir Certain personalities gravitate to certain places. Economist Richard Florida in his new-urbanism, wonkish book " Who's Your City ?" explains that one of the most undervalued decisions we make in our lives is the choice of where to live. Think about it: countless books and websites are devoted to vocation and life partner but very little devoted to setting. Consider that we breathe, eat and sleep in our chosen ponds 24 hours a day whereas we only spend 6 to 10 hours a day on the job and a typical 12 hours a day hanging with the sweethea...

       Last weekend I met a friend for a drink at Harvey's in the Castro. Visiting from Boston, Derrick had mentioned a Radical Faeries get-together he was planning on attending later that evening. The Faeries have always fascinated me; I feel a kinship even though I don't know a lick about applying makeup or conspicuous dress. How sorely I had been mistaken in my stereotypes.        The Faeries are a circle of chill, smart, laid-back gay men who identify with hippie culture. The house party I attended was warm, small and quiet. People were carving pumpkins in the dining room and cooking pizzas in the kitchen.        Jim, our host, lives in a house called "P-Town West" and put together a video montage of the Peanuts Gang Halloween Special along with a few clips and videos of Lou Reed (who had died earlier that day). It was such a lovely introduction to Faerie culture in which I met a few great men and even one woman, ...