Things changing

[Sherlock77]

I'm kind of struggling with some areas of change in my life right now, stuff I can't control in terms of the city I live in

Back in June a large shopping centre downtown (more of a market really) closed down, it was a place I spent lots of time, just hanging out at, grabbing a coffee, etc...

Right next to it a public plaza has been in the process of a rebuild for what seems like too many years, hopefully it's done very soon

And tomorrow Olympic Plaza (yes, Calgary) is shutting down for good for a major redesign and rebuild which is supposed to take three to four years, I've been hanging out in, and photographing there for 20 years... I do know it needed lots of renovations so probably had to be done... I just spent some time at the plaza today, even at -15 to get my last moments there and some last photos...

But all of this seems like most of the public places I know and interact with are gone, Eau Claire Market is gone forever, Olympic Plaza (with a new name maybe) will be back in four years but it will seem like a very long four years, and I just hope they do a good job of it *fingers crossed*, and hopefully the Eau Claire Plaza will be done very soon although it doesn't look like it at this point

Just feeling kind of lost right now, too much getting piled on all at once

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Some cherished places get changed or destroyed and I feel a lot of grief at that. Many years ago my favorite natural beach was ruined when they cut down all the trees, leaving no shade.

Here in Florida we watch natural areas fall regularly to the developers’ projects.

I’m sorry to hear you are losing some of your favorite places. One day, when you are feeling strong, you might try some new locations to see what you can find.

 

[velociraptor]

Just feeling kind of lost right now, too much getting piled on all at once

I am reminded of Heinlein's Stranger In A Strange Land every time I drive through Calgary lately even though I spent a large part of my childhood there. You move away for three decades and boy-oh-boy do things change. Stadium shopping center is gone. Foothills Hospital seems to have grown a bunch of additional buildings. There are a lot of new neighbourhoods. Ring road? Wow. Bowness Hotel? Gone.

I suppose it is sort of comforting that Deerfoot Trail is just as hellish to use as I remember it from years back.

 

[Outdated]

Change was a lesson that I learnt from an early age. When I was 21 I moved interstate for the first time, that lasted 2 years and I moved back to Adelaide. Back Home. Except it wasn't home any more, everything had changed in such a short time. I was a stranger in a half familiar world.

I also struggle to adapt to change yet I know there's no point grizzling about it. It's a fact of life. In Adelaide we're also going through a massive upgrade of the Central Adelaide Markets, a seriously great place for variety of foods and excellent coffee. They did keep one small section open, and part way through construction that section will close and part of the redeveloped area will open up, but overall this process is expected to take 5 years.

 

[Sherlock77]

Change was a lesson that I learnt from an early age. When I was 21 I moved interstate for the first time, that lasted 2 years and I moved back to Adelaide. Back Home. Except it wasn't home any more, everything had changed in such a short time. I was a stranger in a half familiar world.

I also struggle to adapt to change yet I know there's no point grizzling about it. It's a fact of life. In Adelaide we're also going through a massive upgrade of the Central Adelaide Markets, a seriously great place for variety of foods and excellent coffee. They did keep one small section open, and part way through construction that section will close and part of the redeveloped area will open up, but overall this process is expected to take 5 years.

I hear you, trying to have faith in the process of change... Will it be ruined? Will it be a good change?

 

[Outdated]

Will it be ruined? Will it be a good change?

That part doesn't matter. What is, is. What will be, will be. All we can do is adapt as best as we can.

That said, it does take me a long time to adapt. A good example of this was my love for cooking. I had a little camping gas stove with a little oven in it and it was perfect for a single man, so cheap to run and so easy to use. Then the rental management people found out I had a gas cylinder in my home, a banned fire hazard, they made me get rid of it.

That destroyed my habits, my diet, and my fun. It's been over two years now and I'm only just starting to cook proper meals for myself again. I still hate the oven, electric stoves suck balls.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Unneeded change is just pure evil. Grocery stores periodically rearrange items on their shelves so people like me (knowing exactly where my regular stuff is, and can get in and out in a few minutes) will have to look around and in the process see new things to buy. Not only does that not work with me (because I am too angry at them), but it backfires because I will deliberately skimp on things and buy less on the first visit where I find things rearranged.
The town I live closest to, closed some streets for a few weeks. When they reopened the streets, they had actually created choke points at each intersection so only one vehicle could pass through the intersection from any one direction. Previously, it was possible for two vehicles to go through in the same direction if one was turning and one was going straight. Of course the result of this sillyness was to bog down the flow of traffic through town.
In the last several years, perfectly good 4 way intersections in my area, where there had been no traffic issues, were converted into roundabouts. American drivers seem to get confused with roundabouts. Having one show up on an open country road where none had ever been before just generated traffic issues that had never existed.
OK, my rant is done. When a change is actually needed to remedy an existing problem, then an intelligent change can actually make the world better. But change just because you can is just ludicrous.

 

[Outdated]

Unneeded change is just pure evil. Grocery stores periodically rearrange items on their shelves so people like me (knowing exactly where my regular stuff is, and can get in and out in a few minutes) will have to look around and in the process see new things to buy. Not only does that not work with me (because I am too angry at them), but it backfires because I will deliberately skimp on things and buy less on the first visit where I find things rearranged.

That one is so me.

I talk to myself out loud as I'm shopping too, I'm not at all shy. I get funny looks from staff when I say things like "Well, if they're not selling it then I'm not buying it, am I?". I never buy substitutes, I know what I want and that's what I'll buy, if they don't sell what I want then someone else will.

I also laugh out loud at some of the prices, which can vary greatly from week to week. I keep a decent level of stock at home so I don't have to buy things when they're more expensive. But I'm not shy of pointing out prices and asking the world at large "What sort of idiot's going to pay that?". I get grumpy looks from staff when other customers hear me and actually look at prices and put things from their trolleys back on the shelves.

I'm an initiator of social change and responsible consumerism.

 

[AuAL]

Before I go shopping, I walk through the aisles of my usual store, in my mind, looking at the shelves and reminding myself what I need to buy when I get there.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I hate shopping in general and hate it when they move things around.

If I have to shop at a different store, even if it is the “same” store in a different location, I can’t find anything.

 

[Judge]

Reminds me of how hard I took the loss of Tower Records. Some might find it laughable, but when you lose access to places and functions you have enjoyed for so long, it can really cut deep with some of us.

And all the computer software stores like Egghead that came and went. Before Tower Records, there was Whole Earth Access. Another place that was quite painful to me when they closed their doors for good. And so many others over the years...long gone.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I was only at Tower Records once - but it was quite memorable. Amazing to be able to see so many records and CDs in one place. To browse. To listen to the music in cubby holes before you bought it. (I didn’t live anywhere nearby. I was visiting an out of town friend who brought me there.)

 

[Xinyta]

Unneeded change is just pure evil. Grocery stores periodically rearrange items on their shelves so people like me (knowing exactly where my regular stuff is, and can get in and out in a few minutes) will have to look around and in the process see new things to buy. Not only does that not work with me (because I am too angry at them), but it backfires because I will deliberately skimp on things and buy less on the first visit where I find things rearranged.

I hate shopping in general and hate it when they move things around.

If I have to shop at a different store, even if it is the “same” store in a different location, I can’t find anything.

Yeah. I find it irritating that store shift merchandise around. They have convenient excuses for it. But the real reason is to make people look around and continue shopping. The people who know what they want and leave with no more than that, clearly are treated as the enemy and it's silly.

That one is so me.

I talk to myself out loud as I'm shopping too, I'm not at all shy. I get funny looks from staff when I say things like "Well, if they're not selling it then I'm not buying it, am I?". I never buy substitutes, I know what I want and that's what I'll buy, if they don't sell what I want then someone else will.

I also laugh out loud at some of the prices, which can vary greatly from week to week. I keep a decent level of stock at home so I don't have to buy things when they're more expensive. But I'm not shy of pointing out prices and asking the world at large "What sort of idiot's going to pay that?". I get grumpy looks from staff when other customers hear me and actually look at prices and put things from their trolleys back on the shelves.

I'm an initiator of social change and responsible consumerism.

That is awesome. If only more people would do that.

 

[velociraptor]

Well today was frustrating. Another co-worker from my old employer left and announced that he is also joining my new employer. We were hired separately so this was a bit of a surprise to me, but now my old managers think we planned this. I am getting bombarded with questions on Facebook and long-term work friends have unfriended me and blocked me over this.

All I did was move to a job that I was offered that pays more and I enjoy more.

Now I have to put up with juvenile shunning and the like? Blah. One thing I know about friendships is that it takes more than this to kill one. I guess some people weren't friends after all.

So, yeah. More changes.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Well today was frustrating. Another co-worker from my old employer left and announced that he is also joining my new employer. We were hired separately so this was a bit of a surprise to me, but now my old managers think we planned this. I am getting bombarded with questions on Facebook and long-term work friends have unfriended me and blocked me over this.

All I did was move to a job that I was offered that pays more and I enjoy more.

Now I have to put up with juvenile shunning and the like? Blah. One thing I know about friendships is that it takes more than this to kill one. I guess some people weren't friends after all.

So, yeah. More changes.

I had pretty much figured out that “friends” at work were merely people who have to interact and get along because they share the same work environment.

I was surprised when a colleague I had worked closely with for over 20 years does not even return my calls and has declined lunch dates. We had a good working relationship and after some years also discussed personal problems and were mutually supportive and helpful.