THE COMFORT ZONE

Out near the frontier there are paths over the steep parts, and the army road does not give easy access to the overgrown areas. But the trucks do allow patrols, during the drier time of the year. Once the rains hit, all bets are off. Trails become mud, there are landslides, and people get lost in the overgrowth. But really, they shouldn't have been there. Snakes. Poisonous centipedes. Carnivores. And above all, ants and mosquitoes.

Why did they build the road? Was it just for the occasional foray?
Like a few other roads, it didn't really go anywhere.
There may have been a staging area.
Long since disappeared.
The rains.


Unless you have a generator, there is very little incentive to venture out beyond the grid. Airconditioning and consistent light are strong incentives to keep near populated areas, and prevent horrid skin infections. That does mean passable roads, and petrol storage.
Sources of clean water are also enormously attractive.

As are the numerous convenience stores.
Hot food, cold drinks, cigarettes.
Disinfectants, bleach.

There used to be more corner stores and laundromats in this neighborhood. Several of them have been replaced with pet groomers and yoga studios, indicating that twenty somethings don't drink alcohol, buy snacks, or wash their clothes. But they are in shape, and their dogs are fully shampooed. I'm not sure I'm entirely okay with that.

Also, the pandemic has made them dirtier.
Long hair and scruffy beards.
They look feral.


I have always thought it a very great pity that there is no cafe on a sunlit cul de sac in this neighborhood, with tables that catch the warm early morning rays. One could sit there and finish one's pipe with a glass of hot strong coffee, perhaps scribbling ideas in a notebook or absent-mindedly scratching an insect bite. But I can understand why that is. Dog owners, vegans, and people who have no taste in hot beverages would make it impossible, and Karens would complain about the occasional Dutchman with his horrid tobacco.

Gluten-free mufffins. Vegan Danish. Macrobiotic honey.
Greenly sourced beans from sustainable farms.
Overpriced very mediocre green tea.
And no ashtrays.



==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================