Imagine...create

Imagine the world you want to live in - what does it look like?

I want to live closer to nature, but without having to go live in a cabin in the woods (although that does sound fun, temporarily). 

I want to be able to walk or bike to my nearest grocery store in less than 10 minutes by myself, without worrying about getting run over by a truck, or harassed by a stranger.

I want everyone to have the means or resources to get the medical/mental help they need to participate in society, hold a job, and afford a place to live, and form relationships and communities where people support each other. Nobody can do it all on their own - we need each other.

I want small farms to exist in every community. Wouldn't it be great to have a neighborhood chicken coop? Fresh eggs just a walk away. Cities used to have large "commons" (I'm thinking specifically of Boston) where livestock could graze. I miss animals - I should find out where the nearest farm is that allows visitors. Can nature be allowed to weave itself into city life? I just don't see developed land ever going back to nature in a city environment, as the land is worth too much, which is unfortunate. Maybe vertical gardening is the way to go.

Can we solve the rapid commuting/transportation issue in a clean way, working with the earth instead of against it? I think about transportation a lot. I love having a car, as it allows me to go just about anywhere at any time, but I hate driving through congested areas, and then trying to find parking in a packed lot with 20 other cars circling. Cities used to have robust streetcar systems, which were largely replaced by ever-expanding freeways, and lots of cars. Sucks to be a person without a car on the west coast! Yeah, public transit exists in the city, but it's so slow, I wouldn't use it unless I had no other choice. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to hop on a train that runs along the same freeway you drive to work? If the commute time was comparable, I'd do it to avoid the risk of getting in a car accident (haven't had one yet...knock on wood). There are some days when it seems like there's something in the air with the number of crazy drivers I encounter.

I want to live in a world that runs on renewable, abundant clean energy. There has to be a way, right? A way that doesn't also have the potential to completely destroy the planet?

So yeah, that's the beginning of my list. There's a lot more to add later. What are some little steps that we could take to make our ideas a reality? I suppose for the first thing on my list - the very least I could do is make a point to go on more nature hikes, and maybe buy a plant for our balcony (and learn how to not kill it). And visit a local farm with cute animals!