Sunday, March 11, 2012
Infill
Since December I've doubled my weekly exercise, infilling between the usual M-W-F trips to the store. Walking every day makes a noticeable difference in mood and health.
These infill walks required fighting two old internal rules made by my Kraut chromosomes.
Rule 1: «Achtung! Valk must haff Purpose! No Valk mitout Utility!»
This rule never made any sense. In younger years I felt free to drive or bike without a destination, but walking has always needed a firm reason. No idea why. Breaking this rule was easy; just one pleasant random walk deconditioned it.
Rule 2: «Achtung! All Valking Routes must be Maximally Efficient! Cut all Corners, never go around Unnecessary Block!»
This rule does make sense for a lifetime pedestrian, and I've learned quite a few tricks to find the shortest possible path. But it's completely wrong for a random walk, where the only destination is Back Home, and the purpose is to maximize distance without getting overly tired. Because it's logical, this rule is harder to break, and still requires some Strangelovian internal slapdowns.
= = = = =
Useful walks always head south and east from my house, because that's where the stores and bus stops are. So the random walks have headed north and west, to explore unfamiliar territory. And there's a surprising amount of unfamiliar stuff within a one-mile radius, because I simply never looked in those directions before!
Earlier I noted a 'locus of new growth' that seems to be propagating from the city's beautiful repaving of Wellesley. Flips, sales, existing remodels, and new construction. Infill as usual in Spokane, the Infill Capital of the West. Nevertheless, an indication of positive economic activity in this part of town. The new construction is on lots that have been vacant for a hundred years!
Now I'm noticing a 'locus of decay' in the other direction, propagating from the only apartment building in the neighborhood. This apt is a two-story wood structure, possibly a WW2 barracks extensively remodeled. It's been decaying for a long time and fully abandoned for a couple years. The apt seems to be infecting nearby houses with Who-Gives-A-Fuck-Itis. Near the apt are several collapsing failed remodels, mixed as usual in Spokane with beautiful and elegant 1930's cottages.....
These infill walks required fighting two old internal rules made by my Kraut chromosomes.
Rule 1: «Achtung! Valk must haff Purpose! No Valk mitout Utility!»
This rule never made any sense. In younger years I felt free to drive or bike without a destination, but walking has always needed a firm reason. No idea why. Breaking this rule was easy; just one pleasant random walk deconditioned it.
Rule 2: «Achtung! All Valking Routes must be Maximally Efficient! Cut all Corners, never go around Unnecessary Block!»
This rule does make sense for a lifetime pedestrian, and I've learned quite a few tricks to find the shortest possible path. But it's completely wrong for a random walk, where the only destination is Back Home, and the purpose is to maximize distance without getting overly tired. Because it's logical, this rule is harder to break, and still requires some Strangelovian internal slapdowns.
= = = = =
Useful walks always head south and east from my house, because that's where the stores and bus stops are. So the random walks have headed north and west, to explore unfamiliar territory. And there's a surprising amount of unfamiliar stuff within a one-mile radius, because I simply never looked in those directions before!
Earlier I noted a 'locus of new growth' that seems to be propagating from the city's beautiful repaving of Wellesley. Flips, sales, existing remodels, and new construction. Infill as usual in Spokane, the Infill Capital of the West. Nevertheless, an indication of positive economic activity in this part of town. The new construction is on lots that have been vacant for a hundred years!
Now I'm noticing a 'locus of decay' in the other direction, propagating from the only apartment building in the neighborhood. This apt is a two-story wood structure, possibly a WW2 barracks extensively remodeled. It's been decaying for a long time and fully abandoned for a couple years. The apt seems to be infecting nearby houses with Who-Gives-A-Fuck-Itis. Near the apt are several collapsing failed remodels, mixed as usual in Spokane with beautiful and elegant 1930's cottages.....
Labels: infill, Shack people - Cottage people
¶ 1:58 PM
