About: livinintheloin

livinintheloin is:

a) a tree hugger

b) an activist / volunteer in The Tenderloin

c) a cartoon character

d) car-free

e) On the NOM/TCBD Board

f) All of the above

Basically, a regular guy that’s been in the area for about a decade, in SF for 6 years. Last summer, ‘07, I bought a condo in the Tenderloin — the American dream. From the perspective of a guy who had actually only been downtown a few times — the “dream” was initially more like a psycho-nightmare. Uh, what is that smell? Look at that, a guy using a car mirror to inject (I dunno) into his neck.

<insert a few months of heart pounding, nervous sweaty runs from the BART hole to my place HERE>

After acclimating to the loin, and realizing that I was pretty lucky, re: buying, I’m loving the area. My life experience, and the things I’ve seen, folks I’ve met, have enriched me in ways that I never would have expected. I’ve gone from scared, to give all the homeless folks a one way ticket to Fresno, and back to what I hope is a more grounded, empathetic place.

I guess the lesson for me has been: turn your life upside down every so often, and see where you are when you are right side up again — what you are looking at/seeing, and where you are looking from.

~peace (no, I don’t have a quarter)

13 Responses

  1. J Square Public, on May 7th, 2008 at 10:11 pm Said:

    I feel like injecting something into my neck…..

    DON”T DO IT!!! –livinintheloin

    Reply
  2. Allison, on May 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm Said:

    You are an inspiration! Good work!

    Reply
  3. Paul Hogarth, on May 29th, 2008 at 11:36 pm Said:

    Welcome to the neighborhood! I work at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, and just bought a place in the area as well — Symphony Towers, at Turk & Van Ness.

    Funny thing is, I looked at a few apartments in your building — and I have to give you credit for figuring out how to live in such a tiny studio. I need space for my baby-grand piano, so the Book Concern Building wasn’t for me.

    Anyway, just bookmarked it and will be checking it out. I’m on the Board of the Tenderloin Community Benefits District, by the way, so feel free to let me know about concerns in the area. And Elaine’s a great resource too.

    And check out Beyond Chron … it’s what keeps me busy.

    *There are several floor plans here at the Book Concern: some one bedrooms, studio, studio w/half loft, studio w/full loft. A couple in the building recently won an award for cool small places (Apartment Therapy). My place has 18′ high ceilings, a full loft, two exposed brick walls, and a skylight. It works!

    I’m working with Elaine (FUF and Tenderloin Tree Committee) to see if we can get some trees out front. She *is* great! — livinintheloin

    Reply
  4. Jerry Jarvis, on June 11th, 2008 at 11:20 pm Said:

    I live here in the Tl as you do I hope you don’t mind that I have linked your URL in my blog links area. I hope to engage you in my post here no matter the opinion I express here. Remember it will always be civil. And I always will respect your no matter how much it differs from yours. Wish I knew whom you were, so that I may recognize your opinion that you may express on to the net. I always value it. You may even get through to me when I am wrong>

    Thanks for the link Jerry. Of course we can agree to disagree, civilly. — livinintheloin

    Reply
  5. Alex G., on June 19th, 2008 at 8:52 pm Said:

    Hey K.M. -

    It’s Alex G. Remember me from bids at Triple-I? Anyway, I just found this blog and oddly enough, I’ve been living on the edge of the ‘loin for over a year now. Anyway, hope you’re doing well.

    Cool, thought you were in OR. Nice to know you are in the area.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia Price, on June 30th, 2008 at 6:05 am Said:

    Love the redesign! Did you see me riding with the Scooter Girls at Pride yesterday?

    Sorry I missed that! I did see Dykes on Bikes Saturday — always a great event. –livinintheloin

    Reply
  7. jessep, on February 13th, 2009 at 12:54 pm Said:

    I LOVE THIS BLOG :P

    Reply
  8. E.W, on May 5th, 2009 at 7:55 am Said:

    Simpsonized much?! :-)

    Reply
  9. Livinintheloin « Tenderblog, on June 2nd, 2009 at 6:36 pm Said:

    [...] author of Livinintheloin defines himself as: Basically, a regular guy that’s been in the area for about a decade, in SF for 6 [...]

    Reply
  10. Margot, on July 17th, 2009 at 5:57 pm Said:

    This blog is wild.

    Reply
  11. B, on October 20th, 2009 at 4:09 pm Said:

    Your ideas about the tenderloin are an inspiration. I have been living in the ‘loin since July and have come to love the area. We all know it can be a bit sketchy sometimes, but I love the central location, the fusion of different kinds of people (out of towners, homeless, artist, people working downtown, etc.) in the area. I also like the extremes in the area (a quick walk up snob hill is a big transition from the TL). Either way, TL, you are my home.

    Reply
  12. Eric Rodenbeck, on October 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pm Said:

    We met this morning over your tree planting – I’d like to help hassle the CBD to water the trees that were planted last weekend; get in touch if you like and I’ll try to help.

    Reply
  13. Annie, on January 15th, 2010 at 3:58 pm Said:

    I live in the TL since 9 years. Great experience ! but miss the silence and calm of Nob Hill !

    We are the new O’Farrell Street Watch Group, and we are recruiting members. We hope to become the first Tenderloin Neighborhood Association very soon. Please join our group ! Contact me via email.

    Reply

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