We Asked San Franciscans
This article is part of The Bold Italic’s “We Asked San Franciscans” series, where we pose interesting questions to interesting readers. If you have a suggestion for a burning question we should ask, email it to us at info@thebolditalic.com.
For better or worse, this year has provided many of us with an endless stream of days, weeks, and months to evaluate our lives. This time is nothing if not an opportunity to take stock and be proactive about what changes we might want to implement once we can start saying, “Remember when we were on lockdown?”
Even when we’re not in the middle of a devastating global pandemic, brutal protests, and an historic election, people have a hard time meeting goals. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions fail within a few weeks. Once upon a time, I might have postponed certain things because I assumed that tomorrow would arrive normally. But now, as social distancing guidelines and travel restrictions have hijacked our plans, I’ll never take my bucket list for granted again. Personally, as I reflect on this year-like-never-before, my aspirational bucket list has become more like an urgent to-do list.
With a new year right around the corner and the vaccine on its way, returning to some sense of normalcy actually feels somewhat imaginable. And even if we’re still months or years away — you might at least get a little boost of serotonin thinking about a brighter future. We asked San Franciscans what their hopes, goals, resolutions, and dreams are for 2021. It’s nice to make plans — floating on a restless sea of uncertainty is so 2020.
“I wasn’t able to leave the country until 2012 because I wasn’t a citizen. So it’s like I was in quarantine because of my own personal travel ban. I have a passion for travel — literally anywhere outside the United States. My goal is to visit every country. I’ve been to 80 so far.”
—Solmaz V., Campbell
“I want to see if I can finally get a good deal on housing during the pandemic. Maybe Alcatraz has some available accommodations? Kidding. I actually look forward to going to Fisherman’s Wharf, because I’ll be relieved to be packed next to so many people to make up for lost time.”
—Peter Struckmeyer, San Francisco
“As a comic, I can’t wait for nightlife to open back up in San Francisco. I miss hanging with all of my friends outside of venues, smoking cigs and getting ready for a show. There’s something about being out at night in a seedy part of the city, at a dive bar in a back room that’s about to be packed with people who want you to make them laugh that’s priceless — that’s what I’m looking forward to most after the pandemic is over. The best thing about a dive bar show is that afterward there’s either karaoke, which I miss desperately (I need to belt out Careless Whisper to people at least once in a blue moon to feel human), or there’s dancing with my drunk friends to all of Drake’s songs.”
—Valerie Vernale, San Francisco
“I want to enjoy the shit out of concerts and big gatherings once they’re allowed again. I also really miss going to theme parks like Six Flags! I also would love to join more in-person support groups. Zoom meetings don’t seem to be helping as much. Lastly, I want to go back to school. I thrive more in a classroom setting than I do online.”
—Coral Best, San Jose
“I walk 30,000–40,000 steps a day when I’m traveling. Self-made tours. During the pandemic I started doing that in my neighborhood, my own backyard, my own town. I started with 10-minute walks. Then it turned into 30, then it turned into an hour, four hours, five hours… You’d be surprised by some of the random discoveries I’ve made: random caves, creeks, tunnels, trails, etc. I want to do more of that.”
—Solmaz V., Campbell
“My post pandemic resolution is to compete in a powerlifting meet. I’ve always loved lifting and both my dad and uncle have competed in powerlifting. I was lucky enough to have been surrounded by it growing up and to have had access to a full home gym. With the free time that the first shut down gave me I had no more room for excuses and decided to start building my own home gym like my dad and uncle.”
— Elliot Morrow, San Jose
“I’m gonna kiss all my friends on the mouth. And abolish ICE.”
— Alexander K., Santa Cruz
“As soon as it’s safe to be in public without a face covering, I’m throwing a mask-burning party.”
— Andrew Bellefuille, Petaluma
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