New Orleans - where free time is more valuable than money

Except for Mardi Gras and jazz music, I know nothing of New Orleans.  But recently, while reading a book by Po Bronson, I discovered that it’s a city with a very interesting culture.

Unlike a typical city, it doesn’t have the usual rat race tension because people find free time more valuable than money.  They work just enough to maximize their free time.

Offices are usually empty by 530pm so there’s plenty of time at night to get in touch with their dreams.   And by “dreams”, there isn’t really any pressure to chase them.  As one illustrated it to Bronson - in LA, if you say you’re a musician, you’re asked where you’ve played, who your rep is, what label are you with.  In New Orleans, if you say you’re a musician, people accept you’re a musician, even if you only jam one night a week at some unknown place with no audience.  In short, in New Orleans, a dream doesn’t have to be a reality to be real.

Bronson had in fact one unforgettable experience.  When he came over to New Orleans to meet his fiance’s family, he was expecting to be grilled.  He was introduced to 45 people and not one single person asked “what do you do?” They just figured out if he was able to afford to fly there, he must be doing alright.  How cool can that be?  "What do you do" is one question that I don't like asking nor answering. Haha...

I think I should add New Orleans to my list of places to visit.  Cool culture.