Everybody went for M-class

'Cause they wanted all that green

Me, I know better

Ain't got the time to clean

I picked me out an asteroid

Just a hunk of rock in the void

It's easy to steer it away

From spaces I want to avoid

And it's easy to maintain

A simple pile of dust in space

No atmosphere to protect

No biomes to displace

I adapt to its needs

Got my little dome right here

I synthesize all the basics

Veggies, water, beer

If you're asking if it's lonely?

Heck no, we give free hugs!

After you spend two weeks in quarantine

'Cause we can't afford your bugs

I have often been accused of living on 'Planet Mary', as if it is, in some way, foolish to dream, or to believe in a better future. I suppose I escape there. It's the place where everything I see as wrong with this world is miraculously absent. Evil, abuse and environmental degredation simply don't exist there.

In the past, close friends have rolled their eyes during my rants, dismissing them as the idealistic ramblings of an inhabitant of Planet Mary. Or, should I say, THE inhabitant, since I apparently live there alone.

In truth, Planet Mary is not floating around our solar system in a detached way. It is here on Earth, a paradise of my own imagination and self-protective optimism.

If there were, indeed, a separate planet for each of us and we could design our world just as we chose, I would start with what we have already. I would replicate our own Earth with its unsurpassable, magnificent and diverse beauty.

I'd empty it of all human beings and all human creations and endeavours. I'd recreate all the species ever to become extinct as a result of human existence. When my new old planet was as perfect as I could make it, I'd reintroduce indiginous peoples, living in harmony within their environment. Eventually I'd allow a sustainable number of like-minded individuals to follow lives of their choosing, building societies and civilisations faithful to their way of living, though adhering to strict criteria:

No woman would ever give birth to more than two children, and she would not become fertile until she was in her late thirties. Thus, the human population would never grow to a point where the ecosystem would be in peril. All construction, agriculture and transport would be completely sustainable. Travel and cultural interaction would be viewed as healthy and desirable with mutual respect and interest between all races and cultures.

If I were to delve into pure fantasy, we'd be able to travel anywhere instantly on an emissions-free magic carpet.

Societies would be equal and fair, where everyone's unique talents and abilities would be harnessed, respected and nurtured for the benefit of both the individual and the society in general.

Nothing would ever be worshipped besides the Nature upon which we all depend.

As balance would have been restored to the planet and all debris and pollution cleared, the climate would have returned to its natural cycles. While understanding that over millenia all life will eventually cease to exist, the changes will be slow, gradual and scarcely noticeable for the new citizens of Planet Mary who live simply, peacefully in contented fulfilment.

After being assigned a Home Planet, I spent most of my time building it up and making my planet self-sufficient. As a recluse, I would rather spend my time tending to Orbis' landscape and pursuing my interests, rather than visiting other Home Planets or establishing trade partnerships.

I took much inspiration from our old planet, Earth's landscape. Vast, sapphire oceans surrounded my idyllic little island, Elysium, which was modelled after Earth's tropical islands. Elysium teemed with flora and fauna. Its rich earth allowed for flowers, fruits and trees to thrive, and for a diversity of animals to populate the land. Mystical white deer walked the land while colourful, vibrant birds made the trees their home.

What Orbis had, that Earth did not have, was the sky whales, my greatest creation. I had always loved these majestic creatures, but they were always hidden in the deep blue sea. Now that I had the liberty of engineering my Planet, I decided to have these gentle giants drifting in the azure blue sky instead.

Ironically, since I rarely stepped out of my cabin, I didn't have the chance to admire them as often as I hoped to have. I spent most of my time reading, painting and tending to my farm. The life I live can be lonely at times, however, it is peaceful, and I am content with it.

However, tonight was slightly different. Hurriedly packing my things, I rushed out to my already set-up rooftop to catch this rare event.

In minutes, Orbis' moon, Luna, would align with the moons of the other home planets, and this breathtaking spectacle would be visible from my rooftop. The silvery moonlight bathed everything around me in an iridescent sheen and made Elysium look almost magical - but not as magical as what was happening in the night sky.

The 10 luminescent moons were oriented in a straight line and so close to Orbis that it was almost as if I could reach out and just touch them. Behind the moons, myriads of stars and planets dotted the heavens. The view was sublime.

Orbis has now been my Home Planet for years, and words could never describe how much I love it.

#planet #dream #galaxy