Arrived home twice within twelve hours to see otherwise sensible young men urinating, one across the street on Mario's house, and th' other on my side gate. When I approached him, he shrugged and moved out of my way. I had the mild satisfaction of chasing him, fly open, into the street while he yelled, mildly, "But there's nowhere to pee around here!"
Anna said that I should have asked him where he lived, so that I could go pee on his house.
The ever-present public urination, defecation, and eating all make up one of the facets of this city, which, eight years after I moved here, continues to enchant me. On consecutive weekend days in March, I rode my bicycle around for pleasure and for errands; I sat outside with friends in the park; ate a wonderful meal within view of the bridge, the western hills, and the docs of Oakland; and I read in the sunlight with the windows open.