Potsdam, New York vs. Rochester, New York

Growing up twenty minutes from Rochester, New York was nice. Even before I could drive, I could walk or bike to places where there was stuff to do. The gas station, the library, a restaurant or two. That's like Potsdam.

In highschool, still before I could drive, but while I had friends that could, living twenty minutes from Rochester was even better. Pittsford, Penfield, Webster, the city itself, all opened up as fresh turf. True you had to have a reason to go anywhere as a passenger, but that was fine. That's like Potsdam.

Once I got my drivers license and access to a car, Rochester was the best place in the United States to live. Hyperbole? No. Twenty minutes in one direction and I was in the city, eating at Nick Tahos (such beautiful garbage plates there). Twenty minutes in the other direction and I was chilling in the isolated Devil's Bathtub, or Mendon Ponds Park, or the Erie Canal. Twenty minutes in another direction and I was on Lake Ontario. Barnes and Noble. Movie theaters. Music stores. Coffee shops. Starbucks. (Oh delicious, scrumptious Starbucks!) Real restaurants. Several libraries. Bowling alleys. Milestones. The Eastman Theater. What more could a teenager with a Joe-job want?

That is not like Potsdam, New York. True, I do not have a car. I do, however, know several people who do. Car or not, there is not a lot to do in Potsdam (St. Lawrene County). There is not even a little to do in Potsdam (St. Lawrene County).

[Note: If you are an avid drinker, you may have a different opinion than that, but I am not a drinker, and do not consider drinking as something fun to do, at least not at the level of those around me.]

I can go to Strawberry Fields. Their coffee is alright. I can go to Stewards. They have good sundaes, for awhile. I could go to Messina with my friends. That's nice. There is a Taco Bell. And a "mall." There is a Walden's Books there. And an FYE. (Messina's FYE is about the size of my dorm room) Where else? Some of us went bowling this weekend. Getting there I felt a little technology shock, for they had no automatic score device. I have NEVER been somewhere where there was no computer that kept your score for you. And I am not saying that that was bad, I quite enjoyed trying to keep score. (I feel better now because I know how to keep score in bowling. I'm enlightening myself. Oh yeah.)

There is one good place to go again and again; the Crane School of Music. Already, I have seen three fantastic shows there. But...oh yeah! Rochester had the Eastman School of Music, and yes, they did indeed have one, two, three coffee shops within walking distace. Ooooh that was nice. What's within walking distance of Crane? Ummmmm.....Stewards? I'll admit that they have good hot chocolates, but they're a bloody gas station!

In addition, places in Rochester stayed open after dinner. I cannot believe that places in downtown Postdam close when they do. It's as if they don't even care that no one is buying their things.

I really miss Rochester. And I'm sorry Potsdam, I do enjoy living here. It's very pretty. And it's very easy to study. But I could not imagine living here. I cannot wait to go home this Tuesday.

Jeeze. I think my only entries so far have been complaints. I'm sorry for those of you who read through my whining. I'll post a positive topic next time, I promise.