57.4%

This week has found me considering why it is I live in New Orleans.
A conversation with a friend prompted me to do a back of the cocktail napkin calculation.
The solution: I've been here 27/47 months since I moved here in 2004--that's 57.4% of the time, divided among six different places in as many neighborhoods.

Yet for each time I go away, I come back.
Some of the reasons are practical--I have an office here, friends, work colleagues and I know my way around.
More than that it's the intangible qualities and characters of the place that keep me returning.

I spent evenings over the week wandering through the Garden District to remember some of what's unique and beautiful about life here.
One night I stood on a street corner waiting for the light to change when a guy came rolling by in a white convertible. He was in the opposite lane of traffic to me with his top down. I could smell his cologne. From 15 feet away. While he was in motion.

Another evening, I rambled with a friend and we ended in The Half Moon, a local bar.
We settled into a pleather sofa under a fan near the juke box with local draft beers.
Another patron was on the sofa so I ended up sitting in the middle between the two guys.

Bar talk started and soon enough I knew the guy was an auto detailer with a birthday on the next day. He thought knowing me better might sweeten his celebration and minced no words.

Auto detailer: 'Is he your boyfriend?
'No, he's a friend.'
'Have you got a boyfriend?'
'I'm between boyfriends right now.'
'Oh, so you've got more than one. Think they would they mind if I took your number?'

My friend howled. I couldn't help myself and laughed aloud, too.

Later on he tried again.
'So what kind of work you do?'
'I'm a graduate student.'
'You getting a four year degree?'
'Well yes, I guess it's taken me about four years. Now I'm at the end of the line.'
'What you majoring in?'
'I study Public Health.'
'So you gonna get a four year degree in that?'
'Well, it's a PhD. Like I said, end of the line.'
'Damn. That's remarkable.'

Even with unbearable summer heat, slowly I'm remembering just why it is I live here.
How it is I can't imagine life any place else in the U.S.
This city just gives and gives.