In the words of Disney, “the happiest cruise that ever sailed” was borne of a small world. The Disney ride ships visitors by countless cultural caricatures to create the illusion of a happy world. In reading Pacific Edge, this image of adjacent idyllic worlds came to mind. The culture of Orange County focused so centrally on minimalism, conservation, and community that Disney need not imagine a caricature of the town. That happy Disney cruise could float by the town-wide softball game as is, representing a new, environmentally friendly culture.
Much like “It’s a Small World,” the utopia proposed in Pacific Edge uses local utopias to propose a greater utopia. For example, Orange County utilizes local resources such as avocados to its advantage. It thrives within the natural constraints of its surroundings, forming a local utopia. Orange County’s approach would not universally apply, however. The key takeaway from Pacific Edge is the beauty and power of our own backyards. While Kevin fought for Rattlesnake Hill, my hometown would fight for the Great Dismal Swamp. Avocados may grow well in California, but Southeast Virginia would grow better apples or strawberries. The differences go on, but in the end, the “ecotopia” defined in Pacific Edge lives in the small scale. Each ecotopia becomes its own idyllic world. In the end, the world of ecotopias, side-by-side, creates a small world after all, or rather, a world with a small carbon footprint.
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