Thought Experiment: You are a native of New York City, you live in New York, work in New York, travel about the city with no particular emotion except a mild boredom, unease, exasperation, and dislike especially for, say, Times Square and Brooklyn, and a longing for a Connecticut farmhouse. Later you become an astronaut and wander in space for years. You land on a strange, unexplored {you think} planet. There you find a road sign with an arrow, erected by a previous astronaut in the manner of GIs in World War II: 'Brooklyn 9.6 light-years.' Explain your emotion.
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As a New Yorker, the protagonist feels a sense of detachment and frustration toward familiar places like Times Square and Brooklyn, yearning instead for the tranquility of a farmhouse in Connecticut. This ambivalence suggests a deeper discontent with urban life, marked by a pervasive sense of boredom and exasperation despite the city's energy.
After becoming an astronaut and exploring the vast expanse of space, the protagonist encounters a road sign pointing to Brooklyn, creating a profound emotional response. This juxtaposition of his former mundane life with the alien surroundings highlights a newfound appreciation and nostalgic longing for his past, emphasizing how distance can transform one's perspective on home and familiarity.
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