Do y'all have friends that move around often? Like, from city to city?
Vancouver, I find, is a transitional city for many people. Unless you've grown up here or have laid down some roots, it's a fairly sexy place to live for a few years before you settle where you really feel "at home".
I'm all for moving about. I've been doing that since I was a kid. What I'm not so down for is pissing on your city, or other cities. Y'all know what I mean. That one Facebook or Twitter friend who constantly updates everyone on their current mood with whatever city, town, village, hamlet, et. al. they happen to find themselves.
For example, when the sun sets during the summer in Vancouver, it's pretty damn glorious. We're talking pinks, purples, oranges – basically my favourite colour palette. Just before that thing dips past the horizon, I swear Instagram and Facebook are bursting at the seams with Vancouver Porn.
"Yeah, I'll take it." "Not a bad way to end the weekend." "Vancouver, I love you."
You know, the usual stuff. For the most part, I agree with these folks, even if their praise is a little ham-fisted.
However, you'll quickly find these same people griping and whinging about Vancouver incessantly once they find a flaw. Immediately the choruses of "No Fun City" ring through the land and should these friends travel to other cities they enjoy, you best prepare yourself for an onslaught of comparisons, parallels and stark differences between them.
Look, I get that Vancouver has its problems. And I also get that people get so incensed over these issues because they love Vancouver and want it to be better. But honestly, if you're well travelled, you know that every single city, town, village, hamlet, et. al. has their problems. Some worse, some easily repaired, but stricken with problems nonetheless.
By all means, voice your opinions – I genuinely love reading them. But temper that angst because if you really love something, you shouldn't turn your back on it so quickly.