"Nature does not proceed in a straight line, it is rather a sprawling development." — Robert Smithson

I ended my last blog post with the above Robert Smithson quote, which I think describes nature and the nature of life well.

The quote gives me pause though when I consider the path of a (NJ) real estate transaction, which I view as linear. I often draw a transaction timeline to give clients a visual representation of the steps; the timeline starts with an offer, the offer is accepted (hopefully), then this next thing happens, then something else has to happen, then this next thing follows, and then several more things need to happen and eventually, the closing. The transaction can also be imagined vertically, as an ascension. Each rung of the ladder climbed is the fulfillment of each necessity. The top of the ladder is the acquisition of a home, sometimes the largest investment of a person's life.

...But, the very notion of a transaction is based in the concept of exchange. You give me and I give you in return. So from a wider lens, a transaction is really more of an ellipse.

It is lovely when a transaction unfolds seamlessly, from point a, to b, to c, with no delays, potholes or unexpected surprises. And it does often happen that way but considering the variables it is also not uncommon that a transaction will have a few irregularities.

Irregularities change the landscape of the transaction.

(In some parallel universe, I am making drawings based on diagrams of r.e. transactions, conveying certain events using different marks, illustrating ebbs and flows, and the emotions, personalities, and energies encountered represented by colors.)

Irregularities in R.E. transaction, (if of the challenging persuasion), can be harrowing. And/but in most life events during which there are twists, obstacles or convolutions along the path to a given goal that we had expected to be undeviating, our awareness of gratitude tends to heighten. In retrospect we might be reminded that "Nature does not proceed in a straight line, it is rather a sprawling development."