Searching The "Small Here"

In his essay introducing The Long Now Foundation, Brian Eno tells the

story of visiting a wealthy friend in her downtown loft, in an

otherwise destitute neighborhood of Manhattan circa 1978:

I just didn't understand. Why would anyone spend so much money

building a place like that in a neighbourhood like this? Later I got

into conversation with the hostess. "Do you like it here?" I asked.

"It's the best place I've ever lived", she replied. "But I mean, you

know, is it an interesting...