How to determine cost of living? The cost of pool

Living in New York, Indianapolis and San Jose over the past year, I’ve learned many factors can determine which locale is most expensive. Rent is perhaps the best example, but I have a new — and more fun — way to do it: the cost of playing pool.
In the Bay Area, my most-frequented pool hall, [...]

The Ghost of the pool table

It’s easy to spot the place on the pool table where my uncle died.
The felt to the left of the break spot is discolored, an off-yellow surrounded by dark green so common to pool. The wood behind the discolored felt is chipped, a beige spot on the side rail several shades lighter than the rest [...]