In
the last few months I've been reading about the modern history of
walking in city environments. This walking practice has to do with
discovering aspects and subcultures within the city that are either
invisible to vehicular traffic or at risk of being erased by urban
development. It might seem a stretch to be considering this kind of
walking in a small rural town, however that has proven not to be the
case.
Over these last few weeks, partly in combination with my Blue-Box Walking,I've discovered two or three secret places in our small town. It's easy to see how people could ignore these places. They're not very well developed, but they clearly provide a getaway for certain citizens of our town. You can call them secret patios,since what they seem to provide is outdoor social space where people will meet. I have no idea who these people might be, they could be youth or homeless or secret drinkers. There doesn't seem to be the usual kind of evidence that one sees with a secret drinking place - no beer cans, wine bottles or the like. My guess would be this is a secret meeting place for young people who probably have no similar place to meet. These are the kind of people also see hanging out in schoolyards or on Main Street. Further, since our municipal government has removed all public seating in the main public spaces,young people or people limited to very small or shared housing have few options but to create personal social space where they can. What I believe that I see are such spaces.
These are not random places either, clearly they have arranged seating and cleared away brush to make room for sustained visits and conversation. And in some of them there are even small fire pits where I would guess a small inconspicuous fire has been set, partly for warmth and partly for social ambiance.
Over these last few weeks, partly in combination with my Blue-Box Walking,I've discovered two or three secret places in our small town. It's easy to see how people could ignore these places. They're not very well developed, but they clearly provide a getaway for certain citizens of our town. You can call them secret patios,since what they seem to provide is outdoor social space where people will meet. I have no idea who these people might be, they could be youth or homeless or secret drinkers. There doesn't seem to be the usual kind of evidence that one sees with a secret drinking place - no beer cans, wine bottles or the like. My guess would be this is a secret meeting place for young people who probably have no similar place to meet. These are the kind of people also see hanging out in schoolyards or on Main Street. Further, since our municipal government has removed all public seating in the main public spaces,young people or people limited to very small or shared housing have few options but to create personal social space where they can. What I believe that I see are such spaces.
These are not random places either, clearly they have arranged seating and cleared away brush to make room for sustained visits and conversation. And in some of them there are even small fire pits where I would guess a small inconspicuous fire has been set, partly for warmth and partly for social ambiance.
Yours
, on the journey,
Ray
Walk
as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet
Thich
Nhat Hahn
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