h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I read this article about gentrification, and it made me think of you, since you talk about it a fair bit. http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2012/02/gentrification.html

TRiG.

Thanks for that Trig.

I'll give more thought and maybe come back later.

Yeah its a complex thing. I think for me though it is fundamentally to do with a change in 'culture' . How people interact with one another; what there fundamental values are etc...and money can often affect that.

There have always been plenty of 'middle class' however one loosly defines that artists in my area...but we go with the flow of warm interaction, talkativeness to strangers in the street, openess as much as possible to other cultural/racial behaviours providing there is neighbourly respect.

The side of gentrification that worries me is that some people have moved in who cold shoulder you, and look fearful that you might jump on their kids or something.

But so far I reckon its okay...as the status quo warm messy Peckham style culture is still the majority.

But its amazing how many students have moved into the area of late. People renting out rooms and even whole houses as they lose their jobs. And everytime someone can no longer pay the mortgage and the house is put up for sale a business person buys..and rents out at a high rate.

But still its small scale here as yet.

I thought you'd find it interesting. I actually mentioned you (not by name) in the third comment on that article. And yes, it's the *culture* you talk most about, though I suppose pricing matters too. I found the comment about "key worker housing" in London interesting.

TRiG.

My place is a Housing Asociation flat...with a low rent by London standards. It's a conversion of one house into two flats. I was originally given it after I came out of hospital the first time...having spent a year in hostels for the homeless. The idea of the housing association was to assist single people with some kind of disability/vulnerability to stay in the area...but they've been taken over numerous times now...and I'm not sure they have that policy anymore.

I was intensly grateful though. On this side of the street there are quite a few houses converted like that by either Housing Associations or the council...we always tease the other side of the street that they are the 'posh' side as they are all home owners...it's just good natured teasing we've done for years...but there are still a few eccentrics across the road. One bloke who is an artist has painted [removed by moderator] all over the front of his house...and recently someone moved into a rented room across the road and his room is full of sculptures made out of bits of tree...I keep meaning to get to know him.

> painted [removed by moderator] all over the front of his house

I would love to see that. I've never been more adventurous than footprints on the ceiling, and my mother wouldn't let me do that.

TRiG.

(Removed for sensible reasons I hadn't considered to do with identification of where I live)