Well, where do I start....

[LuckyLuke]

Were you refering to my assumptions of what is happening in the US? Or are you talking about my thoughts on the circles of one's environment? I was just a little confused since the quotes message of mine you used seem to refer to the latter..

No, what I mean is that based on your comments thus far it's my opinion that all of your assumptions of Argentine life in Buenos Aires thus far line up with reality and your expectations are likely to be reasonably met.

What remains now are the logistics of your visit down here to confirm that your perceptions of the reality down here match your assumptions, and whether that reality gave you the satisfaction you anticipated.

 

[Anna GF]

I agree with LuckyLuke - see if the reality matches your assumptions. I spent a month traveling around Argentina 3 years ago, with a home base of Bs As, where half my family lives. I came back to the States and told my Argentine doctor how much I loved it and wanted to move there permanently. I always remembered what she told me, "It's an illusion, Ana! You were there on vacation and only saw the good side." I didn't believe her. Last summer I went back and stayed a whole month just in BA and reality did sink in... the delays, frustrations, traffic. I couldn't believe I'd ever tire of pasta, empanadas and milanesas, but I did. Made me really think hard about living there permanently. I ultimately would love to split my time between BA and the US where I can get the best of both worlds.

 

[Anna GF]

*I also spent my junior year in college in Buenos Aires but that was a long time ago and a different experience altogether.

 

[JJWilliam]

No, what I mean is that based on your comments thus far it's my opinion that all of your assumptions of Argentine life in Buenos Aires thus far line up with reality and your expectations are likely to be reasonably met.

What remains now are the logistics of your visit down here to confirm that your perceptions of the reality down here match your assumptions, and whether that reality gave you the satisfaction you anticipated.

Super, thank you. I think my screen showed something weird, like a previous post quoted, hence my confusion. Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[mageesa]

I think you should trust your Argentine friends and come down for 6 months (get the extension at immigration) to get an idea. From what you say I think you'd like it, and speaking spanish goes a long way, since people love to talk. It reminds me of NYC back in the 90s, when you would run into a lot of people with serious hobbies/side hustles (my monthly fumigator and I always have a nice chat since he's also a photographer and musician, as well as a pest exterminator).
Maybe it's just the circles I run in, but people just seem less online than the USA. A lot more sitting around drinking coffee for hours, having lunch, going for a walk. Things are just more 'free range'. I worry that technology will grow in influence, since I see less people reading on the subway than a decade ago; but there's just a lot to do in the evenings, and people do things. It's a country of extroverts. Even the introverts are extroverts, by USA standards. I feel like nearly every day someone walks down my street singing (sometimes badly), which would be very weird back home.
People are just shameless, in the best way.
Now I've got to get on a bus and go to my music teachers concert, haha.

 

[BA Bike Guy]

That is incredibly beautiful. I would find it utterly "rose colored glasses" if I had not heard it before.

For me, in this chapter of my life, this describes all the important points of what is important to me. I'm actually very introverted- at least in the psychological test sense, not in the popular sense of being "withdrawn" or socially awkward- so I don't need parties or big gatherings or a circle of endless friends. A couple good friends, some acquaintances, and being seen by familiar faces when I go into a store or sit on a bench in a park where just sometimes we end up in a meaningful conversation... that's a large part of what is most important to me.

All I ask is soil fertile enough that, with some effort, I can help that to grow. The youthful stage of "building things", of trying to make a mark on the world... well, I have reached an age where that doesn't really play a role. A daily life with all the usual things like doing laundry, making dinner, going to the store for some little project I am working on...yes, that is part of living, but the sense of "The respect, openness and empathy of the people here I find is incredible... (it's the #1 reason why I love BA)" , well, that simply sounds wonderful.

If you do decide to spend time in BA, reach out, and me and my wife will join you at a cafe...I can at least tell you where my favorite ferreterias are!