At the Smart Stuff That Matters unconference we did an ‘anecdote circle lite’ as an introductory activity. Participants discussed in small groups about their latest move to a different house, in terms of the biggest disappointment and most pleasant surprise of living in a new house/neigbourhood/city.

While one participant talked, the others in the group would write down things that stood out for them. This served as raw input for putting together the program of the day. Below the photo of all the remarks that ended up on one of our living room windows, is the transcription of all 130+ post-its. It is unsorted and in random order. Some of the post-its read like they’d deserve their own blogpost to explore.

• City is experienced more than the place, the place lived more than the city
• Does smart stuff make us faster? Smart slow stuff: yoga, walk the dog, pillow, alone time, just be, mountain bike
• Get in town by changing speed
• Move (=1) integrating connected to social fabrics (=2)
• turning old hous into a living space
• material things vs digital: like e-book collection
• segregation big city, hard to connect
• big new build house, spoiled? comfort
• old owners of the house had own way of doing things (and we have the implications)
• de-smart, why needed? “Lekker zelf knoeien
• Combination green city garden station, freedom + comfort
• moving from big to small, small to big
• different transitions together with moving houses
• the fence that is permeable (privacy + see through and contact)
• shed-own space, tinker space
• get to know people on the street
• there are kids in the neighbourhood, but we hardly see them
• it is more stressful when you know more
• physical limitations, short range, 500m
• travel time vs family time
• self reliance, responsibility, freedom critical
• plants and music
• where to find coffee
• un-smarting, light
• children help bring/make community
• technology also ‘blinds’ local jewels
• approach newcomers
• learning from overhearing experts
• takes meeting many potential friends to find one
• moving to area with different culture is interesting
• small community very comfortable
• small talk = life blood of community
• when do you live in a city or just use a house
• connections matter
• transition issues – how not to get crazy in the process
• you don’t want to be sharks with sharks, you want to be a shark with a fish
• expanding and contraction
• tinkerspace
• energy
• interhuman connection
• view of a green toolshed, lots of travel time for work
• eyeglass 2016 meltdown travel
• accessibility in the city
• rediscovering the city when not able to walk far
• home = your own stuff? (living together!)
• never moved, ice damage, 2 yrs
• segregated cultures
• to the hague, busy, rules and fines, large differences
• standing out from the crowd is hard
• slow moving, gradually
• to make friends you need to see them in new environments/situations for next level
• big city, big street, no social cohesion
• smalll town -> big city
• groups stay separate
• sharing with other people to connect -social media, -online communications, free online courses
• smart stuff to feel home: old fashioned slow stuff
• living in 2 places, moving without moving
• having a group that makes you feel at home
• yard work = meeting people
• social fabric in neighbourhoods, how to reach eachother
• smart vs responsibility
• homeschooling techniques & stories
• stm starts with people, human, after that technology
• anti-squatting: live in a room that is not designed for it / community
• you have to move, even when moving
• liked a 30s-40s home, but appreciates the comfort of a brand new one.
• house with a garden, everything around the corner. Feeling the need for less ‘smart’
• The stuff you bring to a new home define feeling at home
• the first move breaks you
• MSTM14 – best travel experience
• hired house vs bought house, changes vs stable
• amsterdam -> borg. Wow I’m living here now, jazz musicians
• not being at home after moving busy at work
• staying out of algorithmic propaganda world
• when you build a new house you have to imagine how it will turn out. You buy it ‘on paper’. Conformity=expectations of society
• outside city -> center, old house requires a lot of work, what do you really need?
• smart slow stuff, algoritmic propaganda world
• house is where I am, flexible/portable housel
• live in an ambulance
• connecting to people in building.
• welcoming neighbours
• moving evolves the world (e.g. neanderthals) and your family (e.g. ancestors)
• discovering other similar people
• home for kids so different for parent. time/part in life
• kids do better understanding systems
• needs from social fabric depends on the situation
• social needs interaction
• rules for making friends: it’s work, you need to set out to make friends
• being somewhere new for a month inspiration
• home is a combination of green and the comfort of good facilities
• freedom
• silence
• “central”
• being there needs a decision
• unpredictability is cool too
• serendipity?!
• bumping into people is important
• home ~~~~~ discovery
• erasing traces / tracks
• understand the city depends on the way of transport
• Airbnb is not about living only
• how to find chemistry
• small road to a small town with 70 people
• childhood roots us
• what could possibly go wrong while moving
• transitions are key stress factors
• 1st home physical co??? with the space
• walk cycle go by boat
• discovery needs slowness
• building informal network
• moving is losing
• noise
• heart vs wallet
• right side of town
• freedom from family
• more development after my development
• cats own the house
• all the friends you haven’t made (yet)
• via Facebook a small room in Amsterdam
• when do you still bump into friends by accident
• a simple light switch works better than any app
• hack your kid: online games -no money -earn money by irl activities
• kids: boat —> steer, morning ritual, egg timer, backlog
• color coding, feedback, move board along
• yes you can forbid things (hack your kid)
• connecting with people in buiding + new intro of people living in same building
• warmth vs energy bills
• adapt to little negative things
• back in the city
• architecture influences interaction / community
• having a house you can walk around
• NL-Hungry->USA->Turkey->NL (neighbours) – kids running through
• old church now serves as a community center