SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021 - SATURDAY STORY

 SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021 - SATURDAY STORY

With this week’s theme of jobs for the future, this is set in 2121 - 100 years from now (and I guess I’ll need characters - so I’ll use my family)

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Steve wasn’t feeling so well.  At age 145, it was true that his body had its bruises.  His mind was sharp though.  

That morning, like all mornings, Steve stood next to his RHS (remote health sensor) for about 15 seconds.  The nutritional analysis was that Steve was doing well, but to watch his carbohydrates some today.  The electrolytes were good.  His brain was functioning quite well with no hint of dementia or Alzheimer’s.  (Actually, the number of dementia issues had dropped about 85% from its peak in 2041.  With the various nutritional analysis available to most of the population, the RHS was able to synthesize the correct daily vitamin for Steve (through its interface to the 3D nutritional printer).  

The cancer check showed that the slow-growing tumor in his abdomen was not growing too fast and was not an issue yet.  

But, today, the scan indicated a slight aggravation in Steve’s left knee.  Yes, he knew exactly what that was from.  Playing software yesterday with the senior team at his church, he knew he shouldn’t have dived for that hot grounder in the third inning.  Again, the 3D printer whirled into action with a slight pain relief that was desired for left knees after irritation.  

Steve reflected a little.  Maybe it was time to move to the outfield - less stress on his knees.  

After taking the pain relief pill he felt better and ready for his day.

*****

Steve was a widower. His wife of 47 years died two years ago.  The average mortality for women was 114 years and for men was 109 years in the United States.  Even with the improvements in health, organ transplants, autonomous vehicles, electronic health assessment, and more, people did die.  Sara was healthy but even with all the technologies, she had cancer that didn’t reply to the treatment.  For six months after her death, Steve had some depression.  But the health analysis generally mixed an antidepressant medication with his regular daily vitamin and gradually he adapted to being single again.

He checked in by video through his central screen with his great-granddaughter, Hannah.  Hannah was on Mars and was expecting Steve’s first great-great-grandchild.  To Steve, having a great-granddaughter living on Mars was exciting, and having a great-great-grandchild was almost mind-boggling.  

Steve, at age 95, was spry.  He had lunch with his daughter, Genesis, twice a week.  Genesis lived about 2 miles from Steve in Chadron, Nebraska.  Genesis was a professor of biochemistry at the University of Nebraska - Chadron, but also a professor of bioethics from the University of Heidelberg in Germany.  The joy of virtual presentation and 3D astral projection, allowed Genesis to be in both places at once - or even on Mars with her great-niece.

In 2121, the concept of ‘retirement’ was almost never heard of.  Steve, a newsman most of his life, regularly reported on living conditions on Mars.  The first explorers (all robotic) had been on Venus now for five years and living arrangements for human visitors were to be ready in the next month.  Steve had been to Mars in 2116 - for his 90th birthday.  But, it was already quite familiar because of his daily briefings. 

Teleportation was advancing nicely.  Within Earth’s orbit, one could teleport to almost any port on the planet.  The ports were generally where the old airports had been.  They were expensive, about 1 million a trip, but as the average annual wage was $12 million, it was available to the more wealthy.  For more common travel, such as New York to Nairobi Kenya (the capital of South Africa), it was about $50,000 on the supersonic transports.  Engineers had solved the “sonic boom” issue in 2048 and supersonic transports came shortly after.  

The last half of the 21st century had terrible global weather issues until the IGCS (International Global Control System) was fully implemented in 2111.   There were adequate rains where rain was needed, plenty of sunshine and not too hot in other areas.  Some of the most troubling battles of the IGCS were over Rainforests and the Arctic and Antarctic regions, where environmentalists prevailed and such areas were still rainy, hot and steamy; or cold, snowy, and arid.  

Like the Luddites of the early 19th century, there were the people who rebelled at the technologies and robotics, but gradually that subsided, Laws were made to keep employment at 95%, and thus there were still some menial jobs.  With neonatal analysis and gene splicing, the number of mentally handicapped was reduced to less than 1% of the population.  

With almost full employment and with artificial intelligence and robotics, there was a lot of leisure time.  Sports, art activities, theater, music, were all popular leisure events.  Television watching was limited to at most two hours a day, and probably 70% of the people didn’t even watch that much.  

Steve’s son, Asher had gone into politics and was a representative to the World Congress.  He and his wife had four children and the eldest two had two children each.  

Crime didn’t exist.  With the daily health sensor, mental health and anti-social issues were largely eliminated.  The implanted chips also monitored those whose brain scans indicated a potential for crime.  

Guns did exist - for sport hunting only.  Steve had been on a buffalo hunting trip in the Lakota Preserve in South Dakota.  Only 180,000 licenses were issued in a year and the controls were very strong.  

Steve did reminisce on the past.  His Dad/Mom lived to 99 years old but dying in 2046 was before most of the standard health improvements.

Religion was still present, but as you might expect, it was controlled as well.  Hatred was pretty much banned.  Of Steve’s three children, one had married a person of African descent, another a person of Indian heritage, and one of northern European background.  Most children being born had a similar skin tone and race division was almost non-existent.  

*****

I’m stopping here.  What might it be utopia on Earth also seems like a “Brave New World”, “1984”, and other stories.  I don’t know what like in 2121 will be like - and I’m actually happy not to be living another 100 years on top of my current 73 years.  (How did Methuselah live to 969 years?)

This was hard to write and, part of me - Pollyanna Karen - didn’t quite like the direction I was writing.

BUT, in 2021, LOVE WINS; 

HUGS

KAREN