Same Disillusionment, Different State

If I think of myself as having moved to a Communist country I find I can better deal with the complaining people and the infinite layers of witless bureaucracy that I keep encountering in NY. If I just tell myself "pretend you are in Cuba trying to get your child registered for school." then I can reduce the desire to strangle the perpetually entitled, disgusted, impatient New Yorkers who I need to help complete my transactions. I see the irony of complaining about complainers, but that really does wear on me. Even weirder do I find the pride with which New Yorkers embrace their crankiness as an essential part of their identity. To me it's all pollution and wastefulness. That said, six weeks in: Kid is finally registered for school. (4 phone calls, 1 visit to Registrar; 3 visits to pediatrician and 5 phone calls to get the medical records needed for registration.) Car is finally registered. (3 visits to another county.) Dogs have their licenses. (2 visits.) Parking permit for railroad on bumper. (2 visits to Town Hall.) Progress to some degree. I was on a video conference yesterday with some Californians who asked how the transition was going. I knew they would understand when I explained that it was kind of hectic but I was trying to be like a lotus flower. Growing in mucky water, but not soiled by it. So I am working on living in New York without becoming a New Yorker. Wish me luck.