Signs that help

Fifteen years ago I sat on my small communities Design Review Board. Despite it having “review” in its name I focused on “design” and thought my flawless taste would soon be reflected on the streets of our village. Nope. Instead we told people that their garages were 5% too large, their decks 6 inches too high, the parking lots of their cafes one spot too small. We were a committee of “no, go back and fix this negligible item and we will see you in a month.”

One day, however, we found an agenda item for “Wayfinding.” I had heard this phrase (word? I can’t remember)before. It is a way of saying directional signs that have a graphic element. And that point out areas of interest and identity in a place. You find yourself somewhere new and then you find IN yourself something new. It is a beautiful thing. It seems to take years to find our way and find your way through a committee to I never got to see it. But as I recall it pointed out schools, and bike paths, orchards and dog parks, and beaches. Lovely.

When I returned it was up. It was maroon, and since I seem to have a strange version of color blindness that ignores maroon (I am only partially kidding and I am also pretty sure it pre-dated my inferiority complex regarding a certain college in Cambridge who’s shadow fell over my life) I can’t tell you what ways it helps you find. But as I said above they are lovely. One day you can visit and tell me the way to the beach.

Don’t know who took this photo. I would take my own if I could find a sign.

Signs can be helpful. At the brewery that is close to the Lighthouse where Steve’s interests and mine find their way to each other (too much?) the bathrooms are far away. I mean far far away. As you exist the back door of the brewery there are long skinny arrows some of which wrap around walls. The word restroom is painted at least three times along your winding path. At some point is says “you have almost made it” or “almost there” or something else encouraging right when you have begun to doubt yourself and your ability to understand arrows. Usually you will pass someone on the way to the bathroom. You will say something like “at least we are getting our steps in” and the person returning will say “you are almost there” or “right around this last bend. If you didn’t already need to pee you might wish you had brought your water bottle (or beer) on this adventure.

I have gotten good at this journey, I can do it almost without the arrows. Last week I virtually skipped down the wide concrete halls because I could skip reading all of the directional signs. I KNEW I was almost there. When I arrived at the alcove that is the final barrier to the toilets I found a woman staring at her phone. She looked at me with real fear. “Is everything alright?” I asked. She tilted her screen to me and I expected to see some sort of death notice or invitation to speak at a conference in Florida but instead I saw the map page. “Can I help you get somewhere?” I wasn’t confident that I could help but she needed me and I was willing to try. “I’m looking for Cohesion brewing” she said. “Oh, you are in the building, just follow the arrows in reverse.” I told you I wasn’t sure I could be helpful. “I know,” she said, voice warbling, “I was just in there and now I am lost.” “If you wait a sec I can take you back.” “No. I’ll just use my GPS.”

As I bashed my hip into the swinging door I heard the voice. “Continue straight for 500 feet.”

So sometimes we need directions, instructions for where to go. And sometimes we need instructions for how to live. I am pleased to tell you that you can find such instructions (like you can find almost anything you need) on Redfin. (It’s like Zillow but somehow better, just don’t ask me how.) Sometimes I get confused about what to do where…but I don’t need to wonder.

In kitchen’s? EAT

Living Rooms? GATHER

TV Rooms? RELAX

In laundry room? WASH

In virtually every “shabby chic” home? LIVE LAUGH LOVE

I am a contrarian (sometimes, except when I am expected to disagree) so I EAT in the living room, GATHER in the kitchen, IGNORE the laundry room and because DIE, SCREAM, HATE feels extreme I VEG, MUMBLE, TOLERATE as much as possible. Way finding (Wayfinding?) signs are just helpful suggestions after all. We all need to find our own way eventually.

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Seen any signs lately?

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