In the traditional study of history, we tend to conceptualize time in terms of eras and blocks. For example, in Western history, you have the Roman Republic, the Roman Senate, the fall of Rome, the Middle/Dark Ages, the Rennaisance, the Enlightenment, etc. I think this way of thinking comes naturally to us. We often hear how time is perceived linearly. But past time seems to be perceived incrementally. When I think of the past two years, the time is broken into different "eras." And my "eras" will be different from most other people's "eras." For example, June 2007 to August 2007 was my post-graduation summer in Providence. Then September 2007 to November 2007 was my apathetic post-graduation time living with my parents in Richmond. December 2007 to August 2008 was my time in New York. September 2008 was a transition month spent in New York, Richmond, and San Francisco. And October 2008 to the present is my time in San Francisco.
Obviously these "eras" were defined by where I was living at the time. However, I think we break time into other increments as well. For example, I remember October 2008 was the time I was in San Francisco but hadn't made any friends yet (i.e. a time of great personal productivity but significant loneliness). And December 2007 and most of January 2008 were a time of joblessness and Lost season 2. There are relationship timelines of course. One ended in September 2007. It started up again in January 2008 and lasted until August 2008. And there are work timelines. One job spanned summer 2007. Another spanned January to August 2008. And my current spans September 2008 to the present.
These are some of the ways in which I perceive the past two years. But my increments are nothing like someone else's increments. My friend Taylor has been living in a small town in Japan called Yakage since the summer of 2007. So place would not be a significant marker of different "eras" for him. I wonder what his perception of the last two years is. And my friend Owen has been in Brooklyn that entire time. I imagine his are defined by other things. My friend Michelle was still in school for a bunch of that time so her perceptions are obviously different. And my friend James was in Chicago for most of that time, so I'm sure he has a different point of view.
I think having "eras" is a good thing. Maybe even an important thing. The point when we stop perceiving events of significance in our lives to differentiate time periods is a point I would rather not come to.
