When I travel, I find that I become super alert and aware. Everything seems new and different, and I’m more appreciative of everything around me. Travel is a break from regular routine and always engaging. In May, I spent four days in Berlin discovering the historical sites, the stark reminders of fascism, the magnificent public transportation available in European cities, the demeanour of the local residents on the streets, and much more.
This week I enjoyed some discovery in my home city of Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a simple, refreshing change in perspective.
Public Transport
I had to leave my car at a collision center this week for a superficial repair. This past winter I was at my favorite ski hill Cape Smokey (https://www.capesmokey.ca/). That day the parking lot was quite full, so I decided to park by backing into a snow bank, into what looked like some soft white snow. When I did this, I received a funny look from another guy walking through the lot, but I thought nothing of it. But he heard a crunch, and when I drove to my overnight stay, I noticed my rear bumper had a significant dent. Then I remembered from many previous visits to Smokey that the location I backed into featured a very large decorative boulder, and I had backed into that because it was buried in snow, so I dented my car’s bumper.
The Repair
So, this week I decided to get it fixed. I drove to a collision center, left the car for the day, and took public transportation back home. In Saint John, I don’t use public transportation regularly, so when I do the experience seems fresh and new. It’s a simple break from routine. Here’s what I noticed.
First, I appreciate the patience of bus drivers. I can learn from observing. Some car drivers make risky left turns into traffic. I’ve certainly done this. But the bus drivers wait patiently until it's safe to turn into traffic. Imagine. But they have responsibility for others lives. Actually, we all do, don't we?
Second, I realize that even in my modest urban environment, a car is a luxury. I could survive without owning a vehicle. I won’t forego the convenience, but I could, and I’d save money.
Third, while sitting and waiting ten minutes for a bus transfer, I became very aware of the growing use of e-bikes and scooters on city streets. I’m a recreational cyclist in an urban environment, and I’m delighted to see this growing usage. I’m quite happy when I ride a bike. Usually, I find myself spontaneously whistling a tune. I don’t see many angry, aggressive, tail-gating, road-raging cyclists or scooter riders.
Messing About
I offer this simple reflection on changing, or updating, my perspective in my home city. My experience that day reminded of a statement from Kurt Vonnegut about buying a single envelope during an Interview by David Brancaccio on PBS (7 October 2005);
(talking about when he tells his wife he’s going out to buy an envelope) Oh, she says well, you’re not a poor man. You know, why don’t you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I’m going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And, see some great looking babes. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And, and ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don’t know. The moral of the story is, is we’re here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And, what the computer people don’t realize, or they don’t care, is we’re dancing animals.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
Conclusion
A change, an update, to your perspective can be quite accessible.
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