> ** Proprietary **
>
> i was much surprised by joel's posting regarding the backyard/front
> porch "issue."
>
> i thought a lot about it over the weekend....
>
> i guess surprised is the best adjective to use for my reaction to a
> member of the planning commission feeling that way... especially since a
> lot of current architectural theory relates the loss of the front porch in the
> building boom following wwii to the decline of community, and all of the
> subsequent problems which followed.
>
> essentially, as we retreated from the front porch into the backyard, (the
> theory goes) we lost touch with neighbors, the community, and "caring."
> security is decreased and crime increases because folks aren't
> watching out for each other, and you can extrapolate from there.
>
> on a personal note... the front porch sorta become an icon for what i feel
> is "better" (on a purely subjective basis) about the inland northwest.
>
> we spent four years in spokane, living in a small apartment on the fringe
> of the manito park/cannon hill park/comstock park area of spokane's
> south hill. my wife and i used to really enjoy strolling around the
> neighborhoods, and we came to know several folks from "front porch"
> type encounters.
<snip>
> during this time, we saw the julia roberts movie, "sleeping with the
> enemy." there is a scene where julia has returned to iowa, shot during a
> late summer afternoon, during which she sits on the front porch of the
> iowa home she has rented, and finally relaxes after all this terrible stuff
> has happened to her. the sun comes through the trees, children are
> playing, people are walking the sidewalks....
>
> my wife and i looked at each other, and we both said at the same
> time..."we gotta get back to spokane."
I grew up in Iowa, in a neighborhood where the kids played outdoors,
and everyone sat out on their porches. But in recent years when I've
returned, there's hardly anyone on their porches--the reason? Air
conditioning and TV. We sat on the porch because it was just to damn
hot to be inside, and there wasn't anyting to do but socialize.
That world has changed, and now mostly is to be found in nostalgic
movies..
Ron Force rforce@belle.lib.uidaho.edu
Dean of Library Services (208)885-6534
University Of Idaho fax: (208) 885-6817
Moscow, ID 83844-2371
"Every man must die sooner or later, but good books must be conserved"
Don Vincente