They say that it’s the little things that count. I’m not sure if this counts, honestly, but this engaging scene of tree gnomes was set up in front of a house on 7th avenue and it is adorable:
As you can tell from the car in the background, this tableau faces away from the street, so only someone walking along the sidewalk would see it. Given that not many people except those walking their dogs actually walk along this stretch of 7th Ave., which is entirely residential, it is a sweet little gift to those of us who trod along the mostly urban landscape.
I take this route when I go to see my OBGYN. It’s amusing to me the visceral horror this generates in people, that I would walk a full mile across the city to go to a doctor’s appointment. We are not a pedestrian society, and the idea of walking to do chores (grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, laundromat) inspires negative reactions.
I’m not sure if it is a classism thing, but I suspect that is a part of it. Poor people walk; not-poor people have cars. To be viewed as poor (or just engaging in activities that poor people do, like walking or taking the bus) is considered so terrible that people will go to extreme lengths — including spending money they don’t have to buy cars on credit — to avoid it.
But then again, our cities were built for cars. It is nearly impossible to have a job or a social life when you don’t have a car to get you there. I’m fortunate that I live close to the city center so using public transportation to get to work is not overly difficult (if still annoying). But when I first went car-less, the impact on my social life was significant. No, I can’t just jump in the car and meet you for dinner or drinks anywhere. No, I can’t go to evening events without getting a ride. No, I can’t hang out late at night at the club.
I can do all those things, of course, but it requires a lot more work and planning than walking out the door and getting in my car. Often, I knew it wasn’t worth it so just didn’t. Did I miss out? A little. Mostly, though, having a car would mean spending a lot more money all the way around.
And I would definitely miss the tree gnomes I’ve met along the way.