Personal Heaven Writing Challenge
So, yesterday I asked my best friend (whom I'll call Moose since that's his nickname), "If you could design your own form of heaven, what would it be? Keep in mind, you're gonna be there for billions of years". It was a fun conversation, we came up with some really fun ideas, entire geographic landscapes. Now Moose is a Christian and I'm an Atheist, so he and I have differing metaphysical beliefs, but it was interesting to see what he thought. This gave me an idea. I wanted to really write out an extensive vision of what "heaven" to me would look like.
I encourage you to write your own version of heaven. It was a fun creative writing thing for me, and maybe you'll get similar enjoyment.
The Thought Process
I wanted to ensure my version of heaven was a place I could see myself living in for billions of years. It's an unfathomable amount of time, really. The universe itself is roughly 13 billion years old, and the average lifespan of a human is only about 70-ish years. So, you're functionally living the equivalent of 100 million lifetimes. With that in mind, its important that this version of heaven is one that gives me enough to do for that span of time.
I also do not want to be a god in this form of heaven, that seems like cheating. Rather, I wanted to conceptualize my existence in this heaven as "safe immortality". To elaborate, the idea is that in this heaven, we are immortal, but in a way that won't let us get trapped under rubble or something for thousands of years. In this idea of heaven, I want to create the stipulation that I do NOT have god-like powers, I am merely a man that can't be killed nor can I die and there is no likelihood of being stuck in a tormented position (such as the aforementioned trapping under rubble). I view it as not being a god, but rather a grand architect of this depiction.
Another thought that came to mind is the idea of convenience. I think for a lot of people, their idea of heaven is incredibly convenient complete with ready-made foods, instant gratification, etc. However, I hypothesize this is what will ultimately lead someone to being unbearably bored in their heaven. Maybe I've been reading too much Camus, but the concept of the Myth of Sisyphus brings up the following idea:
To Sisyphus, his entire existence is this boulder that he pushes up and watches roll down the hill. Take that away from him and where does that leave him?
Sisyphus and the boulder is a metaphor for human existence. We constantly live in a state of pushing up our own boulder and watching it roll down the hill. An artist makes a painting, finishes it, starts a new one. A musician writes a song, finishes it, and starts a new one. The process is inseparable from what makes us human. You take away that process, what have we left?
The last thing you want in your heaven is to fill yourself with existential dread because there is nothing for you to do.
Anyway, before I keep rambling too much and turn this into a hundred-page essay let's begin.
Heaven
A place you could be for billions of years and never be tired of it, that is truly what Heaven is at its core. There is plenty to do, see, and experience. Above all, Heaven is full.
The People of Heaven
Heaven is full. It's populated by good-natured people. There are a few assholes in the large expanse, but they do little more than give the remaining population something to compare goodness to. These select few societal jerks may as well be automatons as they don't really have any agency other than to give people something to compare it to.
There is a plethora of people to meet, each with their own agency, experiences, passions, etc. People are what make existence worth it. The random days where you bond with a stranger in a record store. Conversations with someone in the checkout line. People are full of insights and perspectives.
The population grows, but there is room for everyone. This is why I think my heaven is a universe, a habitable solar system for people to travel to, more on that later.
The population resides in key designated spaces for people to live in. Eco cities ripped straight from Frutiger Aero art, snowy Norwegian-style villages, Savannah villages with friendly wildlife right outside your window, tropical paradises let to thrive in the absence of colonial oppression, solarpunk towns in scenic valleys. Not an exhaustive list, but I hope it illustrates what I'm after. The idea is a diversity of living to allow for a diversity of people. The expanse and appreciation of culture is the root of societies. Regardless, there is plenty of space, and overpopulation isn't an issue (there are other planets to live on in this heaven).
The Places You'll Go
Nature is the most important aspect of Heaven. The ability to go and see wildlife that is of no danger to you, even your most ferocious carnivore wouldn't make you to be a snack. All animals in this existence form a sort of mutualistic state. There is no shortage of places for nature, from vast jungles that would put the Amazon to shame, expansive deserts, dry savannahs, picturesque lakes, and other nature reserves. There's a redwood forest, a Yosemite, etc. Plenty of diversity in landscapes to observe and experience.
The Great Heaven Libraries: My heaven would exist in a library economy. Take what you need give it back when you're done. For that reason, they're plenty of expansive libraries that have whatever you could want. Every book that has been written and books written by the populace are neatly categorized to easily find. Tents, trailers, surfboards, game consoles, etc. all readily available for the population of heaven.
As mentioned before there are plenty of cities/towns/villages for one to visit/live in. There is always a density that strikes a balance as to remain populated, but not overcrowded. There is a comfortable amount of space for everyone. Coffee shops, boutiques, etc. for the inhabitants that want something to do.
People are free to express themselves however they please. NO restrictions on gender expression, body-fat percentage, age, nothing. How you want to express yourself and what body you want to live in, you have the freedom to do so.
The All-Time Amphitheater: this theater allows you to go back in time and place yourself in events across time/space. Want to see your favorite concert from the 90s? You can. Want to see Bach play in-person? You can go see that too. I thought of this because I thought it would be cool to be able to go back in time and see concerts I was either too poor to afford to go to, or was born too late to see.
The Cosmic Cinema: An expansive theater for movie lovers, see whatever movie is in rotation past and present.
Moosechella: This idea came from Moose, and I thought it would be really cool to implement. Essentially, its a giant music venue. Acts from bands across time (Green Day, Metallica, Chappell Roan, you name it and it might be in the rotation), and acts from the very inhabitants in Heaven. Food trucks serving delicious food for attendees. The event may take place every few years to keep the novelty and anticipation for the next event.
To accommodate for growing population and ensuring even more variation, different inhabitable planets exist that offer different experiences, even non-human ones (yes, this heaven would have aliens). The public transportation system would allow for trans-planetary travel.
What is Life Like?
People are free to engage in their hobbies, whatever it is they want to do. There isn't "hunger", food is plentiful and people are given the option for ready-made foods or to cook for themselves if they so choose. The burden of cleanup is mostly wiped, but the process of cooking is available for those who want it. Food serves as a cultural bonding experience, a way for people to engage with each other. Since farms in heaven are more for hobbyists and animal lovers, food exists independent of animals. While you might be eating a steak, no cow had to die for it to be made.
There are plenty of places to go, personal property is still a thing, so independent shops are allowed to thrive. Music stores, clothing boutiques, game stores, etc. There is no such thing as corporations, so each store is a collaborative effort. There isn't necessarily as each store has different items in stock. Some stores might sell country music while another doesn't for example. There may be one that doesn't have items in stock consistently, this is by design. The reason for this, is to give people who enjoy the hunt for adding an item into their collection can do so. I am such a person. I had spent months searching for a copy of the Halo 2: Volume 2 soundtrack on CD, and I found it at a local music store in a display case for there "rarer" items. I want people to be able to experience that same thrill.
Transportation is largely done by high-speed, efficient public transportation. There isn't a need for cars, but the infrastructure allows for some enthusiasts to have them without detracting from walkable towns/cities. I am something of a car guy, I'd love to drive a modded 90s Civic, or a Toyota Corolla AE86 a la Initial D. However, I want nothing more than to prioritize safe, walkable cities for the vast majority of people. I want to take a car out for long drives, not to just go get a few groceries.
Seasons are still present, of course. I'd say it generally reflects that of seasons on Earth. Each season only lasting a few months, and the expression of seasons to allow for greater diversity.
There is still a Day/Night cycle, people like sleeping, and so do I. Just like eating, it isn't a necessity, but if you wanna sleep, you can sleep and for as long as you'd like.
Where Do I Fit in All of This?
As the great architect of this heaven, I would give myself a space that's relatively outside the general populated areas. I'd want to live in a small village populated by friends and family.
My house would look sort of futuristic, I love the Frutiger Aero design of architecture, so I think that would also reflect my living space. I'd have rooms dedicated to different time periods that are idealized versions of it and allow me to immerse myself in them. I'd want an 80s neon bar room (like the one seen in Atomic Blonde), an 80s lounge area with Memphis patterns great for listening to music and watching shows/movies from the era, a 90s game/music/tv room, an early-mid 2000s older-brother core room, and a mid-late 2000s frutiger-aero style room. There would be 2 different pool rooms, one that is entirely enclosed with soft LED lighting for relaxation, and a glass-covered one for general fun. There's a beautiful expansive kitchen that would give me the freedom to cook whatever food I wanted.
Above all, I want to be able to just be able to be with the people I love, people who are with me now and people who have left our world too soon.
Conclusion
There's probably more to this heaven than I can personally think of, but I think you get what my vision is. And I think it would give me enough to do for eternity. A majority of time would be relatively the same routine. However, there is plenty to see, experience, and discover. Given enough time, everything will regain its novelty. I view it like this, I wouldn't want to be constantly going from one vacation spot to another, I'd get bored of it. Half of the appeal of going to a vacation spot is that it is not a place you see very often, it could be years before you see it again. Same principle applies. I think variety is what would give an eternal existence its staying power.
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