If it had been an outright junkyard, probably he could have stuck things out, made a career: the violence that had caused each wreck being infrequent enough, far enough away from him, to be miraculous, as each death, up till the moment of our own, is miraculous.
The quote reflects on the nature of confronting violence and its rarity in everyday life. The speaker suggests that if the environment had been merely a chaotic junkyard, the character might have found a way to adapt and succeed in that world. This implies that the presence of violence is often distant, making it seem miraculous or coincidental, much like the overarching theme of fatalism in life.
Additionally, it highlights the idea that while death and destruction are constant possibilities, they remain somewhat abstract until one experiences them directly. Until that singular moment of realization, life continues with the illusion of safety, reinforcing the miraculous nature of survival amidst chaos.
