Most people live and die by their beloved club and its colors. What about those who have eyes and heart for more? We explore the story of one such fan, who loves Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester City in equal measure.
Why do people choose to live in the cold? It’s a question often asked by those warm-climate dwellers. The reasons – or excuses – often include one’s career, one’s familial associations, or even cultural benefits. For example, it is a painstaking process to brush two feet of snow from a car on a brisk New England morning, the warm sun unable to thwart a gust of freezing wind. But the benefits to studying in and around Boston are numerous.
I think there’s something else that draws people, or at least keeps people, in the cold. There’s something to be said about the benefits of occasional suffering. The coldest weather a San Francisco resident must prepare for is mild: a light jacket will often suffice. It’s a great benefit, yet they may never understand the feeling of walking into a heated home after hours in freezing conditions. The comfort of a hot coffee mug’s warm caress on cold lips. Hedonistic lifestyles feature little pain, but that lack of discomfort minimises the net gain of utility happiness, as an economist would put it.
Much like our choice of residency, our choice (or inheritance) of a football club changes how we experience joy. While a Torino supporter cherishes every victory at the Derby della Mole, a Juventus fan may see it as just three more necessary points. Success begets expectation, and that expectation reduces our tolerance for suffering. A Miami native and Chicagoan have similarities and differences, just like supporters of Barcelona and Espanyol.