Searching for warmer weather and a smaller community we moved from San Francisco to Redwood City, 23 miles down highway 101. We chose a housing development somewhat separate from Redwood City. It lies along the western shore of San Francisco Bay. It seems there are thousands of houses, apartments and town homes. The estimated population is something over 10,000. Yet I ask myself where all the people have gone.
As I walk about the various neighborhoods I often feel I am alone. I ask myself, “Is this a ghost town?” It is a beautifully landscaped and maintained area, like a park. There are running, walking and biking trails, sidewalks and birds everywhere. Where are the people? It is sunny and around 80 degrees day after day. It hasn’t rained since May. Why aren’t the people out enjoying this environment? My advantage is that it’s mine, all mine. I don’t have to share it.
Many of the homes are waterfront with beautiful patios, decks and porches facing the water. Some have nice furniture, big barbecues and tropical potted plants. Where are the people? I have walked many miles through these park-like neighborhoods. I walk mornings, afternoons, weekends, weekdays and I have never once caught anyone taking advantage of their great waterfront environs. Mind you, not once! Where are all the people? Isn’t this California? You know, the California lifestyle, outdoors in the sunshine and all that. It’s not happening here.
The trails and sidewalks I walked in New York City were an obstacle course as I dodged the throngs. Here there is hardly a soul to say good morning to. Seldom is someone out walking with me. Once in awhile I will see a person on a leash watching a dog doing its constitutional but they don’t look up as I pass. I’m lonely for company. This is not a place to resolve loneliness. Perhaps I am invisible to them.
The mind-boggling questions then are: Where are the people? What are they doing? What keeps them from enjoying the surroundings that they pay the big bucks to own or rent?
I speculate the answer lies in: television, computers, the internet, I-phones and computer games. We are nestled in Silicon Valley (or is it silly con valley) with Oracle headquarters down the street. Perhaps they don’t notice there is an outdoors.
Another speculation is that this really isn’t a community. It is instead, suburbia. Everyone commutes to another part of the Bay Area to work and then back home again. None of my neighbors have spoken to me without me aggressively pursuing them. They just aren’t interested in their neighbors so it’s safer to stay indoors. Most everyone has two car garages with automatic door openers. They walk through the door of their living area into the garage and enter their BMW. Push the button and the door opens and they are gone. This is reversed in the evening. One can begin to understand the invisible nature of the residents. Mind-boggling!
Stan the Man
