Loitering Is Delightful

Loitering. It's a word that has a negative connotation, but that describes a blissful state. This piece made me think about how few outlets there are left in the world for people to simply exist, without either producing or consuming something. The erosion of the "commons" is perhaps a discussion for another time, but presents a real problem. When I need to wait around downtown for something, the only places I may do so without paying are either small public parks — where police come and run me off after an hour — or the library.

I submitted another piece recently about "scheduled boredom." I think that for a lot of people that is a radical idea — we have become so accustomed to doing something either productive or consumptive even in our free time that the idea of just existing seems absurd. But this was the default state for me as a child. So much happiness came out of those times just sitting around and playing make-believe, chatting, or braiding wildflowers.

Like the author, I have been trying to carve out more moments that others might deem "loitering" in my life lately. And while my happy moments might be looked at jealously by passersby, or met with the refrain of "don't you have somewhere to be?", I can say that those moments are definitely bringing peace to my life.