I have come to understand that what a society needs is a low cost of living. It should take very little to provide the basic necessities for one's self. There should also be a variety of ways for someone to earn the requisite income. I believe the result of these two conditions is greater enjoyment, comfort, and health for everyone involved.

People in the suburbs are estranged from almost all services. Food, entertainment, work, friends, almost always involve the automobile. Huge amounts of disposable income is spent on maintenance, gas, and insurance. The car makes amazing things possible - to visit your family in salem on the weekend, or to work 10 miles from where you live. But should you live 10 miles from where you work? With the telephone or email, it makes it bearable to live very far from those important to you. It works so well you might not even need to know anyone else.

At klickitat I sit in a basement. In a basement, by myself. In this magic box I found an erector set that tops all the toys i have ever known. Through the world wide net i have limitless amounts of data to consume. Mostly it entertains, it teaches me a little, and through my blog it lets me express myself a little. But its still a basement. Someone sitting behind and to the left of the monitor might look at my face and wonder what is so entrancing about the CRT glow on my cheeks. He or she might wonder why I spend so much time here. For a while last week, the internet was gone. I got more done on my AP Radar project on those few days than I did in the last few months. But then I got bored with the box and axious to check my email. My consumer habbits would not easily be delayed. Technology that can connect people across great distances can also enable people to live at great distances from everyone, to their detriment.

car free cities - Venice Italy is the largest such city.

city repair project (portland, or)