Mental Meandering

 Today is July 6, 2021

Not much happening.  

Woke up - minor event as long as I don't have to deal with people. 

Started laundry today, so...grumpy is the best I can do.

Not a morning person.

My mind is not really occupied, laundry is kept simple.

and

I tend to think about random stuff.

Dealy Plaza

There is in Downtown Dallas, a log cabin.  It's said to be the cabin inhabited by the city founder.  Local history.

JFK Memorial

The white concrete monument to JFK, designed by Philip Johnson is close to the cabin, along with the court house as a few restaurants.  The area is, or was since its been a while, fairly lively during the day.  I wouldn't go there at night unless I had no choice.  Which is a pity, since this monument was designed to be seen at night. 

Old Red, Museum, Former County Courthouse
Made with red sandstone

This image is of the old Dallas County Courthouse.  It's been converted into a museum.  The new courthouse is modern and not very interesting to look at.

There are things to do in this part of my city; however, they are not that interesting to someone who has grown up here.  

Why is that?

First, I've seen all of this more than once.

Second, Cities are meant to be lived in and do business in.  

Tourism is only one type of business.  There are surrounding this area a school, a church, a lot of government bureaucrats and courts.  All of which are not active at night.  Thus, the restaurants that serve them, shut down at night. If people have no business (like being a tourist which I am not) in an area, they go somewhere else.  If I have business there, its something I am in a hurry to get done and leave.

Third, There were few residences in this part of Dallas and I can't afford the asking price.  

Although, to be fair, the city is making an effort to attract people into dwelling downtown.  Mainly, young upwardly mobile people.

Don't judge.  Who else can afford to live downtown?   

But, it takes generations to make cities livable and desirable.  

I don't believe that any amount of money or services will make a city instantly liveable.  That is just a start, necessary because everything needs a beginning.  In some ways, a city starts with fresh water, a cabin, and farmers needing someplace to sell extra food.  (cities are surrounded by farmland)

People never actually make decisions based on logic.  A basic course in sales techniques emphasises this.  Logic seems more suited to justifying what has been decided.  So all the amenities and advantages of a city mean nothing, if people don't want to be there.  

Cities are strange things to build, but that word (build) is not very accurate.

Cities can be seen as layers, like an oil painting by Turner.  He liked to use a scumbling technique where thin layers of oil paint make up the painting.  Each layer allows a little bit of of the under layer to show through.

"Landscape with Water" by JMW Turner (1775-1851)
As of 2022 in the Tate Museum, London

The effect is incredible, in Turner's works.  

One layers a city over generations, and a little bit shows through each layer.  The ultimate effect can be seen in cities that have thousands of years of history.  Dallas is not that old.  

So my musing for the day comes to an end.  Boredom leads to grandiose thoughts and consideration of a painting by Turner.  Now it is time for me to zone out while folding clothes.

BPowell July 6, 2021 A chain of thought post, or just mental meandering.