The magic of the self-contained space

So, I've been thinking lately about the charms of certain spaces and places, and what exactly it is that makes them so charming, and I think I finally realize the places I like have a certain self-containedness to them. Think of a ship, or a houseboat - where everything that you would normally expect in, say, a house, is still there, but smaller, cuter, more tucked away. Oh, look at the little sink! Oh, look at that adorable little bunk! The tiny fireplace!

I find this same charm occurs when I am in spaces that are like little self-contained cities, like Disneyland or the Google campus. The laundromat at Google seems fun and sweet, even though I've never found a single laundromat sweet anywhere else. Disneyland is fun - I worked there for several seasons, over a few years, so I know the back spaces fairly well....Zipping around on a golf cart in little tunnels below Disneyland was just the most fun thing in the world. I mean, why IS that? Which reminds me, I also love all the mini buildings in miniature golf courses too.

As a Disneyland guest - as they call their park's visitors - it was always fun to walk over the little bridge by Pirates of the Caribbean, or walk through the miniature streets of New Orleans Square. Main Street, which despite all my politics and personal feelings about America and the so-called Heartland, still makes me feel inside like an excited kid, with a world full of wonder. I worked in New Orleans Square one summer and it still remains one of my favorite places in the WORLD. Now, incidentally, the the buildings (and mountains and other structures) all over Disneyland are built using forced perspective; Main Street's 2nd and 3rd "floor" buildings are built to something like 7/8 and even 3/4 scale. The disappointing thing there is that the fake buildings - the facades - are WAY more exciting than real life could ever be - in reality, the shops are just full of stupid Mickey souvenirs (I love Disneyland but can't stand Mickey), and really, what COULD they be? I mean, how exciting can a shop be?

But I even get this feeling in some cities, like Venice. Just like Disneyland, you can just wander and wander, but without fear or trouble. Wandering in Paris or New York is nice, but eventually you have to deal with certain realities, like finding public transportation back home, or finding a bathroom, or worrying about wandering somewhere where you might get mugged or something. But Venice...it's like a real life adult Disneyland, but with alcohol and gelato.

Anyway, I still don't exactly what it is, but do you know what I mean? If my apartment were like the berth of a ship, I'd be really unhappy and complain daily for more space, but I feel like if I were actually living on a ship - you know, a really cool 19th century tall ship - I feel like I would be perfectly content.

This last year, I made a "temple" for an event - just 5-foot lengths of PVC made into a cube and then drapped with antique saris. It was so wonderful that I later set it up in my house for a while (and added a red fur floor). It was like those sheet and pillow "forts" you make as a kid. Everyone loved it. It was a super magical space, and all it was was a smaller room in a normal-sized room in my house. I'm putting the temple up again soon....

Just all something to think about, I guess.