Seeing the Ordinary Through "New Eyes"

 "If your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like nails." 

This was a common quip in the task force I worked in in the mid-aughts, on science and public policy (and how to get more science into policy, a notion that seems sadly quaint here in 2025). In that group we talked a lot about how the answer you get, depends on how you frame the question, and the lens through which the person answering sees the world. Here's an example I gave in 2009: If the question is, "How do we reduce dependence on foreign oil for transportation?" and you ask a geologist, the answer you get will involve oil drilling in Alaska or the Gulf. If you ask an engineer, you might get more efficient cars or electric cars. If you ask a social scientist, you might get work-from-home and/or public transit. (Weird to see how prophetic some pieces of this turned out!) 

I was reminded of this "lens" thing by a beautiful meme a friend posted on my timeline: 

"Travel does this also," I replied. Or being accompanied by a curious 4-year-old kid. It always amazes me when visitors to the ship ask questions about things that never noticed, because they’re so familiar that after a while you just stop seeing them. Forcing myself into the frame of mind to set up that tour for the blind visitors a couple of weeks ago was definitely a recent example for me. 

So, speaking of things that are so familiar that after a while you just stop seeing them, I'll admit that's true for me. My "everyday life" traveling the world as a crew member on a tall ship, is someone else's "once in a lifetime" joining a short leg of that trip, as a former captain reminded me.  And while we were in Newcastle, I got to be on the receiving end of that seeing-the-familiar-with-new-eyes thing. 

An oldie-but-goodie: me, just doing my everyday job back in 2017, helming a "pirate ship" through New York City, chatting with the pilot, while a musician records a video on the foredeck.

I SAW THREE SHIPS Piano/Violin Pirate Adventure Sailing on El Galeon Through NYC

Got to chatting with one of the visitors, who told me that since we were interested in history, did we know that Hadrian's Wall ran right through his town? We'd learned on our visit to Newcastle Castle that it defended the northern border of the Roman Empire in England, but somehow failed to make the connection that the wall was connected to a line of castles and forts. Two thousand years ago the Romans built a barrier to defend the northern border of their empire. It stretched completely across Britain from coast to coast (Irish Sea to North Sea; 75 miles) and in places was as much as 3 meters/10 feet thick and 12 feet high. Massive undertaking, all by hand of course. With incredible generosity, he offered to take us to see some sections of it that are still standing, just hanging out in ordinary neighborhoods that people drive past every day and don’t even notice. How could we not agree to take advantage of that offer? 

A chunk of 2,000-year-old Wall, just existing; no big deal, no fences, no signage. Note people parking or driving by on the parallel road, or walking along the sidewalks.  

Another section at least had an explanatory plaque.

Another section, again unmarked and unnoticed.

This section totally floored me. If we hadn't had a guide, I would have dismissed this as an ordinary retention pond in a suburban neighborhood.

To me, the whole thing was just another example of how tremendously different our travels were, coming into towns a crew on this most unusual tall ship; than had we simply been "retired people traveling in a minivan." And the lovely gentleman who gave us his entire afternoon wouldn't even let us buy him so much as a cup of coffee afterwards in thanks.