Sexuality Happens

Yesterday, I took a trip up to NYC via Greyhound where Dacia spent the day showing me around the glorious city of New York as a holiday present to me. Yes, I have been to NYC before, but it’s pretty much been limited to a week long trip when I was 8 or 9, and then short trips to see Gotham Girls Roller Derby, to be on Howard Stern, to see Long Island Roller Rebels (Roller Derby), and driving through the city on my way to Purchase, NY to see J.

I took the Greyhound to Port Authority, and from there we went to Rockafeller Center to see the infamous tree…which while large, really isn’t *that* big. I guess when you’re originally from a mountainous state that is known for having lots of large evergreen trees, a big fir tree in a cement square isn’t really that spiffy.

Then we had delicious vegan pan-asian food, and wonderful discussion about having made the decision between choosing a “safe” academic job (like working for planned parenthood, or a college, or some sexuality based institute), versus doing the work we both do, which is still sexuality based, and important, and interesting to us, but sometimes makes us have to legitamize ourselves more to our colleagues. Speaking with her made me feel less alone with being someone in the world of academia who wants to peruse issues of sexuality that aren’t so nice and normal and generally studied. She also helped me realize how lucky I am with my job, and really just feel more comfortable with the direction I’m going.

We then hopped over to Babeland, which I thought was a lot nicer than the one in Seattle. They had a larger selection of toys and books, although it still had the same issue of being a little more/possibly too queer centric, which might be an issue for a straight person/couple looking for a toy. However, I bought PoMoSexuals, which I’m really excited to read on the plane ride to Colorado, and I got to see Jamye Waxman, who was working at Babeland that day, so that was a nice bonus.

We kept on our adventures, and stopped in a few more stores, including the WIRED magazine store, which I still don’t get, a high end sex toy store (which sold $500 stone cock rings! And I’m proud to say, I own 2 sex toys and several books sold in that store – evidently, I have a classy sex life), and an interesting book store, before making out way to a cupcake shop…mmmm…pumpkin cupcakes. Then we went to Blue Stockings, which is this awesome indie book store, which is one of the first places to have a sexuality section that had more books than I had ever seen; usually I own like 75% of them, and just dislike the rest (or have them on my “will get soon” list). This place had tons of awesome sexuality, gender, trans, gay, lesbian, etc books…I was amazed. I bought Jamye’s new book, and one on Femme identity, and hope to go back there at some point. We had just enough time for some delicious tea before I hurried back on the subway to catch my greyhound home.

All this was just a wonderful day (despite my first ever driving ticket that morning…I made a left hand turn on a green light, on an empty street at 8:45 on a sunday morning…apparently, there is a street in Philly on which you cannot make left hand turns, even on a green light, and I now owe $117.50 to the city of Philadelphia), and I loved visiting New York. My knees (all my joints actually) are killing me from all the walking – I’m glad I wore my brace, and I’ve been rocking out on the naproxen and percocet today, but what a lovely adventure. I don’t think I could ever live *in* New York City, but between this trip, and my foray to visit my friend in Seattle in August, I’ve realized that I like being near enough to a large and liberal city (with awesome food choices) so that I have the option of visiting, adventuring and exploring. I still need to check out Portland, San Francisco, Washington D.C, and Toronto. Anywhere else awesome I need to put on my “must visit at some point list?” I think I also need to try to get up to and visit New York more often…maybe once a month, or every other month. There is just so much is has to offer.

Thanks to Dacia, and the lovely and hospitable city of New York for a wonderful pre-Christmas Sunday of exploration and self-justification. It was lovely!