I’m probably one of the few people I know who finds change something inevitable and interesting. No, not just the changes of time, etc… But…
Let me see if I can explain.
A few years ago, my sister visited our hometown. She hadn’t been back for several decades and the changes filled her with dismay. Nothing was worth admiration.
I’d still been living there when some of these things happened. And though not all filled me with glee – especially the development of empty space – I did find several things worthy of enjoying.
The entire nearby beach town had been razed and rebuilt. This was due to extensive oil contamination from the oil storage tanks up on a hill, above the town. Literally, they had to remove all the dirty soil and rebuild the place. I find the new sidewalks, lights, benches, restaurants, streets – much more comfortable and admirable.
To her – it was all ‘terrible’. Yes, the place lost it’s funkiness. But what she remembered with fondness during her high school years, I remembered as a bit scary and difficult to traverse.
We simply saw things differently.
Today, I traveled a road that was once as familiar to me as the back of my hand. Through regions of the California desert valleys and on out toward Palm Springs. I used to live down here and enjoyed the trips north to visit family. Taking backroads and stopping to enjoy the vistas.
It’s been decades. And now? Much has changed. The sleepy little towns I drove through are nearly linked with developments. Modern malls, shopping areas, houses spread out, all of it including the increase in traffic.
Yes, some of it was terrible. But…it’s still the same place. The stark hills remain above the houses. On the edges of the new are remnants of the old. The air is still the same and I could still see a great distance, across the landscape to the further set of stark hills. There simply aren’t enough resources to fill that empty areas with houses.
I shrugged, fining it all fascinating.
As I continued the trip, I turned to the east and hours passed. My eyes widened, amazed at what had grown up between my old home and Palm Springs. Wow. I didn’t see it as good or bad, just…wow.
The further I drove, the more it reverted to what I once knew.
People need places to live. And to exploit. And sooner or later, these places will lose their glow and the people will leave. The economy will dive, or the earth will move and those who came to make their fortune…well, they’ll leave. If this drought continues in California, I can envision a time when all of this stuff fades and goes back to the desert.
In the meantime? It’s pretty fascinating. Change is inevitable and nothing lasts.
And that isn’t always a bad thing. Or a good thing. But it is fascinating. 😉
