End of Days

My Foil Hat got me to thinking about Armageddon and Armageddon Week on the History Channel. I always find shows on that topic fascinating. The whole 'the world is going to end by 2012' thing interests me, since the date is right around the corner. We'll just see how accurate you people are now, won't we?

I have relatives that believe wholeheartedly that it's all going to be over here shortly, that this is the end of days, that we're gearing up for the second coming, or something else along those lines.

While I can't say that I believe in those things, I do sometimes feel overwhelmed by all that's happening in our world. Our economy, our wars, world wide terrorism, 9/11, the wars of others, our energy situation, our environment. It's a lot to take in, and it's all pretty scary stuff. I'm sure people felt the same way I feel now during a zillion other points in history - like things could all go to hell very easily at any given moment. But it's still unnerving sometimes.

So, my response to all this is to design my very own imaginary compound. I promise it will not involve being raided by the feds or mass suicide.

In my mind, it's basically The Farm meets Biosphere. I'm thinking central Texas, somewhere near Austin. Lots of land, plenty of room to grow our own food, raise our own livestock, keep a goat named Owen*, have a nice place to meet as a smallish community, and a HUGE library. Maybe even an outdoor movie theater.

We'd be a democratic society, but I'd be affectionately referred to as 'My Queen' or 'Her Royal Heiness' or maybe just 'Yo, Heiny'. People would want to defer to my wishes, because pleasing me pleases them. They would find joy in keeping me happy and content.

The kids would be home schooled. The community would help you out though, if it really wasn't your cup of tea. It would be totally up to the parents and kids. The kids would have plenty of places to ride their bikes, scooters, and skateboards. There would be a place for art and dance classes, story times, and running naked through the creek.

We'd have an orchestra and a Grateful Dead tribute band. Artists of every type would be needed. Chemists and biologists and scientists of all kinds. Gardeners and woodworkers and handy people, too. And midwives would be a must. I'm sure I'm leaving lots of important things out, but you get the gist of it.

Everyone would be accepted, even those without stars upon thars. And while it may get confusing, there would never be Too Many Daves. I would require that at least one person be named Zanzibar Buck Buck McFate. I don't ask for much, so I'm sure we can work this out.

Everyone would get to do what they were good at, their 'job' would consist of doing the things they enjoyed. Everyone would be happy and would try their best to get along with others. We'd return to the barter system. Peace would guide the planet, and lo-ovvve would steer the stars.

I think that covers the basics of my plan. Now I just need to come up with a name....Any ideas?

*Back when MM used to install siding for a living, he worked at a house that had a goat named Owen. He swore the goat would say his name while baa-ing. Owen got loose one day and was run over by a car. MM's wanted a tribute goat ever since. He still talks about Owen, more than 10 years later. I'm lucky our son wasn't named Owen, although I do sort of like that name. But I would feel bad telling BW he was named after a dead goat.