As a child I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted it so fucking badly that I really couldn't imagine doing anything else. I would spend hours imagining giving a big thumbs up and flashing a smile as I and my intrepid team walked to the shuttle. We'd get into the cockpit, the seats laid vertically so that we sat, facing the impending heavens. I'd flip a couple of switches, say something a little cute and cocky (this was an important point) like "Let's light it up, Houston" and off we'd go to the moon or the stars.
That future never happened (at least, not in this part of the multiverse), but I'm not too bothered anymore that it didn't. What I wanted, mainly, was to go to space. I wanted to be a part of that grand adventure, the final frontier. But now, here's commercial space coming at us like a freight train, and it's highly likely that commercial ships will have set down on Mars before I turn 40 (in about 7 years). It seems like there's a good chance space will be within reach for the average joe - provided they have the money.
The fact that I didn't pursue that path means that I can explore all of these other paths that are laid out before me. There's cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech, obviously. There's my writing - it seems likely that I'll have a book published somewhere in the next decade. There are all sorts of other opportunities, many of which I can't even probably conceive of at the moment any more than I could have conceived of cryptocurrencies and commercial space way back when.
So it's beginning to feel like all of our dreams are just a little more possible than they were even a few decades ago. Excitement and optimism abound, despite problems, setbacks and sensationalism. Don't let anyone fool you. The future is shining and bright. Worth sticking around for, even if things aren't going the way you want them to right now.
In fact, I'll make you a bet. I'll bet your future is even better than you thought it would be. Same stakes as my usual: loser buys winner a beer. And if you lose, I want to drink my brew on Mars, so start saving.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
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