The Times They Are A'Changing

Once upon a time (1624-1998), the town where I live (Borås) had a Regiment (of the infantry kind). When I moved here to live, about 40 years ago, the regiment was still active; but I'm not sure I ever went to have a closer look at the buildings until after they were "demilitarized". But it's not all that far from where I live now, so over the past 16 years, I've probably been walking that way perhaps at least once every two years or so. Anyway I've watched the area change and grow... Initially, just the old regiment buildings converted to house businesses and apartments instead. Then some modern apartment buildings added in between the old ones. And from there it's continued to develop to a whole new housing district... Today it occurred to me that it had been a while since I last checked it out, so I decided to that way again and check out the newest additions. Doing so, I realised that now it really must have been more than just one year since I was there last. 

 Just approaching the old main regiment buildings from below, they still look pretty much the same. There are even still a couple of cannons standing in front of the main building, to remind of "old times". 

 

The old entrance gates have been kept, too.

 

But behind the old regiment buildings, there are lot of new buildings now.

 

Still a bit of a mix between new and old here and there...

 

But there are whole streets of new tall apartment buildings added now! 

Who are all the people living here?? And do they like it?? I haven't got a clue!! 

Statistics tell me that the town's population has increased by 18.6% since 2000, though - and is now around 114 000. And in another decade, the number is expected to have grown to 140 000 (at least according to Google AI).

On my way home I had to pause at a railway crossing to wait for a train. So did a lot cars (no doubt in a lot more hurry than I was). I did not take any photos of the queues waiting on both sides of the crossing; but they were long... Which made me realised that I also happened to be out in rush hour traffic (around 4 pm) - which is something that I normally have the privilege of being able to avoid, these days.

While waiting, I was also pondering the political changes we've been through since the old regiment was closed in 1998. Back then, Sweden was in a phase of disarmament. Now, we're part of NATO, and in a phase of strengthening our defense again... Not sure if there will ever be a new regiment stationed just here again - but old military training grounds in the area are still being used. (We just recently had a such a weekend when constant shooting cold be heard "in the background" from where I live.)