Ok, first this is just a discussion. I'm exploring the subject. I am sure this does not apply to some of you who are a cut above. Let's discuss this.
People could learn something from the structure of a barrio. Honestly. I kid not. Design Community Living Spaces in a way that forces people to interact. The homes are close together and in the center is a colmado, a barber, a hair salon, and other little types of business. You don't go out to your garage, get in your car, and drive to the convenience store...you walk out your front door and down the walkway, past other homes, to the store and then walk back. You all pull the lawn chairs out in the evening and sit out in the front and you are so close to others that you can talk to neighbors even several homes down. Ah, but everyone wants their own Big houses with all the land around it. Or that cool condo with the private entrance or entry thru garage.
Seriously, have you ever heard the term a "cold barrio". This was brought to my attention today that I live in a cold barrio. Got me to thinking. What changes people when they get a little money and can move away from the barrio. Maybe they move to an apartment. I lived in an apartment and we knew the neighbors but only because we agressively made an effort to know them. Most of the Dominicans would stay inside and interact little. What is going on here? The structure of the community area? Is it because the barrio homes are so small that people are out and about in the barrio? Is it because they don't work? Is it just because they are all poor? Or is it the way the barrio is laid out? Is it because none have cars? Should we ban cars in order to have better social interaction and less isolation.
In the USA...isolation and depression due to isolation is a huge problem. Even with people who work all day. I just wonder if the community lay out were different. If everyone had to park the cars on the outside of the community and walk in, and the houses were smaller and closer together...that in order to get to your home you have to walk past many other homes and see the neighbors and have them see you.
What is all this isolation about? I like to isolate sometimes. I just want to be alone. But it sure is nice to know that there are people to go talk to if and when I want...and I don't have to drive across town to do it. Now my wife, who is from the barrio, she rarely isolates. She definitely is more a social or socially healthy creature than I am. Is that because she grew up around lots and lots of people?
I once live in Jacksonville Beach florida. That was a neat little place to live at the time. Small homes and everyone was out and about. Pacific Beach in San Diego is similar. Lots of people walking.
I thought I wanted a nice home on about 2 acres of land. Now I'm thinking that is exactly what I don't want...and don't need.
OK here is the question. Be honest. What was your experience in the USA/Canada/Europe/Etc with where you lived and how you lived in relation to those living around you. Did you feel isolated or depressed due to isolation. How did moving to the DR change that. What is your experience with that now here in the DR?
This is a very complex subject. It could go in a lot of directions. AZB recently said...hold on let me find his comments...
"When I go to USA, I get adjusted to the life there in 1 hour. I almost forget that I live in DR. I simply take my car and go to computer stores (compUSA, microcenter), walmart, malls etc. It almost doesn't feel as if I had even left the country to live somewhere else. Then after a few days, it all gets boring, the malls, the shopping, the large screen TV the restaurants and the central a/c everywhere. I begin to miss the unorganization , the car honks, my mango tree and eeven the UBH from sosua. This is when I begin to plan my scape back to paradise."
He is talking about what I call the "Sterile USA". It does get boring fast. The way we have designed our world or allowed others to design it for us. The DR is a place that has yet to be designed. Do we want to design it or leave it the way it is? Maybe you don't want to clean up the trash after all. Maybe we want to leave it the way it is. Oh it will change. It is changing. As much as I *itch about certain aspects of this country...there is something to be said for the "unorganization" of it. Indeed the corruption is part of the unorganization of the country. When I first came here a friend told me that he lived here because he was suited to the "wild wild west" of it all. Do we want to change that "wild wild west". It does keep one on their toes and engaged. The people...personally I find them to be insincere...at least they do talk. That is a subject all in itself that I would like to discuss sometime...although I will probably offend many in doing so. But not like I have never been offensive. They do appear to be less critical of one another...more live and let live. A guy can have a wife and several girlfriends and it appears to be fine to everyone except the wife and girlfriends. People talk but for them to sincerely move beyond....ok ok...I'm not ready to offend anyone so I will stop here.
If we reach a point where we are perfectly safe does that take something away from us? If we feel no more discomfort ever...do we also lose our good feelings? If we sterilize our world...do we lose something?
Just change the name of this message to "Snuffy Looney Tunes".
People could learn something from the structure of a barrio. Honestly. I kid not. Design Community Living Spaces in a way that forces people to interact. The homes are close together and in the center is a colmado, a barber, a hair salon, and other little types of business. You don't go out to your garage, get in your car, and drive to the convenience store...you walk out your front door and down the walkway, past other homes, to the store and then walk back. You all pull the lawn chairs out in the evening and sit out in the front and you are so close to others that you can talk to neighbors even several homes down. Ah, but everyone wants their own Big houses with all the land around it. Or that cool condo with the private entrance or entry thru garage.
Seriously, have you ever heard the term a "cold barrio". This was brought to my attention today that I live in a cold barrio. Got me to thinking. What changes people when they get a little money and can move away from the barrio. Maybe they move to an apartment. I lived in an apartment and we knew the neighbors but only because we agressively made an effort to know them. Most of the Dominicans would stay inside and interact little. What is going on here? The structure of the community area? Is it because the barrio homes are so small that people are out and about in the barrio? Is it because they don't work? Is it just because they are all poor? Or is it the way the barrio is laid out? Is it because none have cars? Should we ban cars in order to have better social interaction and less isolation.
In the USA...isolation and depression due to isolation is a huge problem. Even with people who work all day. I just wonder if the community lay out were different. If everyone had to park the cars on the outside of the community and walk in, and the houses were smaller and closer together...that in order to get to your home you have to walk past many other homes and see the neighbors and have them see you.
What is all this isolation about? I like to isolate sometimes. I just want to be alone. But it sure is nice to know that there are people to go talk to if and when I want...and I don't have to drive across town to do it. Now my wife, who is from the barrio, she rarely isolates. She definitely is more a social or socially healthy creature than I am. Is that because she grew up around lots and lots of people?
I once live in Jacksonville Beach florida. That was a neat little place to live at the time. Small homes and everyone was out and about. Pacific Beach in San Diego is similar. Lots of people walking.
I thought I wanted a nice home on about 2 acres of land. Now I'm thinking that is exactly what I don't want...and don't need.
OK here is the question. Be honest. What was your experience in the USA/Canada/Europe/Etc with where you lived and how you lived in relation to those living around you. Did you feel isolated or depressed due to isolation. How did moving to the DR change that. What is your experience with that now here in the DR?
This is a very complex subject. It could go in a lot of directions. AZB recently said...hold on let me find his comments...
"When I go to USA, I get adjusted to the life there in 1 hour. I almost forget that I live in DR. I simply take my car and go to computer stores (compUSA, microcenter), walmart, malls etc. It almost doesn't feel as if I had even left the country to live somewhere else. Then after a few days, it all gets boring, the malls, the shopping, the large screen TV the restaurants and the central a/c everywhere. I begin to miss the unorganization , the car honks, my mango tree and eeven the UBH from sosua. This is when I begin to plan my scape back to paradise."
He is talking about what I call the "Sterile USA". It does get boring fast. The way we have designed our world or allowed others to design it for us. The DR is a place that has yet to be designed. Do we want to design it or leave it the way it is? Maybe you don't want to clean up the trash after all. Maybe we want to leave it the way it is. Oh it will change. It is changing. As much as I *itch about certain aspects of this country...there is something to be said for the "unorganization" of it. Indeed the corruption is part of the unorganization of the country. When I first came here a friend told me that he lived here because he was suited to the "wild wild west" of it all. Do we want to change that "wild wild west". It does keep one on their toes and engaged. The people...personally I find them to be insincere...at least they do talk. That is a subject all in itself that I would like to discuss sometime...although I will probably offend many in doing so. But not like I have never been offensive. They do appear to be less critical of one another...more live and let live. A guy can have a wife and several girlfriends and it appears to be fine to everyone except the wife and girlfriends. People talk but for them to sincerely move beyond....ok ok...I'm not ready to offend anyone so I will stop here.
If we reach a point where we are perfectly safe does that take something away from us? If we feel no more discomfort ever...do we also lose our good feelings? If we sterilize our world...do we lose something?
Just change the name of this message to "Snuffy Looney Tunes".