A Visitor to the Future - 67 - Housing Challenges
"What about Paris?" asked Antonia, blue hair tied back in a long ponytail today.
Sarkona and I had finally taken Antonia up on her offer, visiting her at her picturesque manor-house near the French Riviera. It looked like it had been there for hundreds of years, but in fact had only been built about twenty years ago. The grounds were covered with greenhouses and domes, making it obvious even from our distant drone-craft on approach exactly where she lived. It was hard to believe it was over a month since our last meeting during the Anchor challenge, though Sarkona had seen her since. We sat outside around a circular glass table, enjoying a glass of what was called Tart Cascade, a slightly tangy drink served over ice that seemed to change flavour as you drank it, the aftertaste becoming pleasantly sweet. The sun warmed the bones, and the gentle breeze that accompanied it made it all the better.
"I'm not sure if that's my sort of place," I said, "I took a look on the Infranet and it seems really busy."
"The centre of art and culture isn't your sort of place? Well, I suppose there's no accounting for taste," said Antonia in mock disbelief, very much at ease today. Her teasing ended as quickly as it began, and she suddenly grew excited, "You'll still want to go to the drone festival there next month, no?"
"Drone festival?" I said.
Sarkona seemed about to explain, but Antonia cut them off immediately,. "No! No spoilers - oh, I envy you, to go in blind and see it for the first time. I have decided, you are definitely going, even if I have to drag you there myself!"
"How can I say no, then?" I smiled.
"What about in Africa?" Sarkona said, bringing us back to the topic at hand, "You said you were walking a nature trail near there. You could have it right at your doorstep, and you'd be close to Anchor."
"I don't know," I replied, "I enjoy my walks, but to actually build a house there? Even with the Consortium around I think all the animals in that particular region would worry me."
"What about that place you visited?" asked Antonia, "You know, where you told me you used to live? What was the name again?"
We'd spent the last thirty minutes catching up before we'd gotten to the subject of where I was going to build my new home. I'd told Antonia all about IJmuiden, well - apart from one detail.
"IJmuiden," I replied, "I was telling Sarkona and Tungsten that it didn't really feel like home anymore. I think that still holds true. I don't think it's for me."
Antonia's face saddened a little, "I am sorry to hear that. I suppose the bright side, though, is that you have this wonderful problem to deal with now."
She was right. It was a problem, but it was a good one to have. The simple question of 'where should I live?' for me had once not particularly been much of a choice. It was decided by things like budget, or how close my work or family were. None of those were particularly concerns any more. Distance was a non-factor, as you could be anywhere on the planet within twelve hours by drone-craft, or much quicker if you were willing to use rockets. I'd avoided them so far - the drone-craft were plenty fast enough for me.
"Have you even thought about size or layout yet?" asked Sarkona.
I groaned. "No!" I said, resigned. "This is all so much choice!"
Sarkona cocked their head at my exasperation. "You're finding this all very difficult, aren't you?"
"And you wouldn't?" I asked.
Sarkona shook their head, and Antonia leaned forward in her chair slightly, a revelation plain to see upon her face. "I think I see the problem! You're thinking that you have to choose everything now, no? But that isn't the case."
"Ohhhh," said Sarkona, suddenly getting it, "You're still in the mindset that you need to make every decision about your new place right now. After all, in your time if you had to choose a property you were likely to be stuck with it for a while. That isn't the case! You can change your mind as many times as you'd like. You don't have to get things perfect on the first try. If you were to build in Paris and not like it, just get the Consortium to rebuild the design somewhere else! There's not even any real need for what you choose to be stationary, you could easily choose a moving platform - on an airship or boat."
"To more choices!" Antonia said, raising her glass in a toast. I laughed and joined in. It seemed I'd fallen into something of a pitfall - just because I could build the perfect house in the Consortium, it didn't mean that the house was going to be perfect on my first try. Just like everything else I'd experienced in the Consortium so far, I'd have to practice. At building a house. The thought made me chuckle - me, an architect!
Sarkona looked across at Antonia, taking the opportunity to ask, "What else is new?"
Antonia seemed thoughtful for a moment, "Oh! My new painting arrived yesterday - would you like to come and take a look?" She stood up and stretched one arm over her head, closing her eyes and relishing the warmth of the sun for just a moment before we headed inside.