My Life in Twenty Years

Though this period of twenty years is negligibly small on the evolutionary time scale, it is, when considered in terms of man’s span of life, a considerably long period. My friends frown upon my pessimistic attitude so I shall be optimistic when I think of what life has in store for me. If everything remains equal, I would be comfortably off and be pleasant, burdened with responsibilities.

My physical energy would be very much diminished and 1 would have retired from football. I hope to be a veteran badminton player, playing doubles at least twice a week. Perhaps I would not take to golf, even if I have the opportunity, for badminton is my second passion today, football being the first. I could be mentally restless and I would have developed a few hobbies and orchid-growing will be one of them. I would be inviting friends to play bridge with me on Sundays and we would be absorbed in the game, unaware of the world around, like the lotus-eaters.

Now I find myself wildly enthusiastic about everything I do and I have made great plans for the future. I have variously decided to become a pilot, a journalist, an officer, a teacher, and a doctor. I wonder how many of my dreams will be realized. In twenty years, I shall be thirty-six. At the age of thirty-six. I would have chosen one occupation and stuck to it. At the moment, the prospect of a routine life terrifies me. but at thirty-six, any other way of living would be difficult.

In spite of all my protestations of remaining a bachelor. I have a feeling that I will be married and be having children by then. I would probably have not more than two or three children. I shall probably have a couple of girls and a boy. I really am not in a position to say anything definite about the kind of woman I am going to marry. Probably I shall be married to a very quiet but intelligent woman who is very practical, efficient. understanding and realistic in her attitudes.

Perhaps I would have finally decided to become a teacher. If I would emulate my teachers I should be dedicated and efficient, preparing my lessons thoroughly and teaching effectively. I would be conscious of the teacher’s responsibility for the mental, physical and moral development of the taught. I would be the badminton master of the school. If I would be a successful teacher. I would eschew the idea of becoming a headmaster.

I shall have some material comforts and live a happy life. I will probably have a house of my own. I wonder what kind of magnificent television sets we will have then. There will be a whole lot of channels to choose from. If the satellite system is perfected, we shall be able to view television programs from all over the world. I love music. I expect in twenty years, the degree of fidelity in electronic sound reproduction to be so high that I can actually listen to great, realistic concerts in my own room. At this rate, we are miniaturizing electronic combinations. I expect my entire sound system to be the size of a matchbox. My telephone will have that gadget that will enable me to see the person I am talking to. I wonder if domestic lighting will be the same. I can safely predict that my kitchen will probably look like some high-class science laboratory. There will be numerous labor-saving devices that will ease our domestic burden. Videotape recorders and regular home movies might help us to while away our time. I wonder what my car will look like.

The material comforts that I would enjoy will not make me lose my values. I will not be living in an artificial world of my own. My children would be my first responsibility and I would treasure the company of my friends and relatives.