Changing and Managing for Our Benefit

January 6, 2009 by David Eggleton

When I wrote about the goal of Woburnite.com (12/23/08), I used the phrase continuous, adaptive development. I've since used the term resilient. I think I should say more about them. I wasn't talking about real estate development.

Sustainability can easily be confused with stasis, a stopping and freezing of sorts that seeks to indefinitely preserve and protect. When so confused, sustainability seems directly opposed to progress and/or growth. It may feel threatening because we've pinned hopes on progress and growth. That feeling is avoidable because sustainability involves adaptive change or resilience. Stasis has nothing to do with sustainability.

Emerson is helpful here. He wrote: “There is always the movement. What was the movement is the establishment.” Knowing where he lived, I think this observation may have been inspired by tree growth. In any case, movement comes with what is given to us (nature). The establishment includes every sort of thing we've devised and not effectively discarded. The establishment is, therefore, a haphazard creation. Parts of it are rising while parts of it are falling, of different sizes, at different rates, etc. It is not thoroughly managed.

There is always the movement. That sounds sustainable! At best, we are all attentive surfers, going with it. When we're tired or want to do something that will necessarily make us extra vulnerable for a time, we want a break from the movement. We access the establishment, like a shorefront inn, if we have that privilege. There is a danger in lingering too long. For one thing, the movement might go on without us, like a train leaving the station on schedule.

What does all this have to do with a local economy? An economy is an establishment, a devised system of give and take that allows humans to complement each other and create some synergies by enabling emphasis of differing talents and strengths. It's better managed as close as possible to the movement, never allowed to become too removed and haphazard. The surfboard, being compact, lightweight, bouyant and turnable is a pretty good metaphor for local economy!

THE ECONOMY did recently become too haphazard, too big and abstract almost beyond comprehension. As a result, many people are distressed and unemployed. No one knows what's next. All wonder if normal will return. Building and sustaining a local economy is our best response because we who are here can change and manage it for our benefit.