Fortress People & River People

It often seems like there are only two kinds of people: I call them fortress people and river people.

Fortress people, at their best, are conservative: They seek to preserve values, honor traditions, uphold their end of the Social Contract. They seek (and seek to preserve) formal education, and study a thing carefully in order to do it well. They set standards and think it's important to live up to them. They find peace and are most productive in times of stability. When something new is built, their prime concern is that it is built on a strong foundation, so it will last. They avoid error, respect authority, make long-range plans, keep their word. They like the idea that you can build a strong fortress in life (and not just materially), within which they, their families and their friends can be safe and productive. They want to bequeath that fortress to their children.

River people, by contrast, are (again, at their best) progressive: They value freedom, honor creativity, examine and critique the current social contract. They seek experince (the Great Teacher) and learn by doing, believing that even their mistakes have within them the seeds of wisdom. They know that rules sometimes must be broken if one is to do the right thing. They find purpose and are most effective in times of change. And when something new is built, their desire is that it meet a present need. They avoid rigidity, respect originality, adjust their plans as they go, keep their options open. They like that life is an adventure, that you can go witht he flow of it as if it were a great River (hence the name) and they believe that if they, their families and their friends just get out there in the water, they won't drown. Instead, experiments with a variety of swimming strokes will bring their own rewards and the River itself, somehow, will get them where they need to go. They want to teach their children how to swim ... even if it means swimming against the tide.

Question: Are you a fortress person or a river person?