As the weather was warm (albeit windy), we went to the lake beach for the first time this summer. I inflated a couple airbed things while my wife cut up some melon and packed the towels, and we were off. It isn't far, so it didn't take long and it is nice because we don't have to pack much.
When we arrived, the carpark was only about half full, as it is still midsummer weekend and a lot of people are away, plus - windy. However, as we walked onto the beach an early-20s woman runs up to us squealing, and it took a split second for it to register who it was. Our friend's daughter - who we found out came back two weeks ago after living abroad in Australia and SE Asia for the last five years. Her mum was there also, some of their friends and her younger brother, who has now grown into a man.
We have known them since they were seven and five years of age.
It was a pleasant surprise for sure.
Instead of the relaxing beach day sitting around, we ended up chatting and joking, catching up on the kid's lives, and playing volleyball. It was also funny, because while they knew Smallsteps and immediately started talking to her, she didn't really remember them - but didn't let that stop her. And then, a couple of her friends happened to be there also throughout the day, so she would go off and swim with the kids while we talked, and then come back to play volleyball.
I wish this was more common.
If schedules allow, the other cool thing is that the kids (and the dad) are into Formula One, so they are planning to come around for the race next weekend. This means that if the weather is good, we can grill some burgers or something prior and make a day of it. We used to do it all the time with this family, but over the years and after their divorce (even though very amicable) things just slipped.
Kids grow up, patterns change, people drift apart.
This doesn't mean there can't be a reconnection. And I would love that with all the misery of what is coming with the crushing of humanness through automation and AI, we can start to drive human experience based on physical, mental and social wellbeing. Rebuild communities to be supportive and interesting spaces to grow, rather than crowds to fear. Perhaps over time we will redesign cities to encourage and accommodate healthy human interaction, rather than efficiency of corporation.
But that is some time off, at the very least.
So for now, I have to be content with a chance meeting and the reminder that I can start doing more social engineering myself. Building my life to meet people I want to meet, more.
Taraz
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