(The classic that took a major hit after a major infrastructure failure: the recent cathedral fire in Paris.)
Personally: one’s own body throughout life. Getting teeth, eyes, knees, hearts repaired to keep things running
Externally: (as revealed by a walk through the neighborhood): the cracked sidewalks, driveways waiting for mudjacking, the damaged highways and towns because of flooding, fires, etc. The moon flight cancelled because of an engine failure.
People constantly repairing, fixing one or other. Matters of choice and matters of complete necessity for continuance.
But look around you at the urban blight of Edmonton, for instance. Wasteland areas awaiting trains that never come because of cracked bridge supports.
Infrastructure. Everywhere, everything.
Even in relationships, societies, and civilizations.
Thinks about it. How far this metaphor goes and applies.