I hope my grandkids listen in disbelief about my tales of the past

Anonymous

March 19, 2025

I hope my grandkids listen in disbelief about my tales of the past

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

I woke up this morning and stepped outside, breathing in the fresh air—cleaner than it had been in decades. I walked to the neighborhood market, where fresh affordable produce from local farms was abundantly available thanks to Europe’s 2030 policy on increasing subsidies for farmers so they get a fair price and not have to pass the increase on to the consumer

My grand children played nearby with their pals from all different backgrounds, chatting effortlessly in multiple languages thanks to the continued EU Education Initiatives that make multilingual learning and culture projects free and accessible, fostering deeper understanding across nations.

I meet my elderly parents for coffee, they are both in their 80s and in good health thanks to the eu wide shared health system that meant they could go to Europe for treatment and not sit for years on eating lists in ireland. They pay for their coffees using Universal Living Credit—a system introduced in 2041 to ensure financial stability for all citizens.

We talk about life in general and about the news story of the day which is the anniversary of the day in 2026 that the EU finally stood up to Trump and Netanyahu, leading to a free Palestine and the downfall of the trump administration and his eventual incarceration.

My three adult children join us for lunch as they are on a day off thanks to the EU four-day workweek policy. They talk excitedly about their plans for their new homes which they can easily afford because of house price control policies and decent salaries. I tell them horror stories about rent prices and homeless rates when they were babies, they don’t believe me.

When I returned home that evening, me and my husband make plans for a trip to our second home in Spain later in the month. Later that evening our Ukrainian neighbors and fellow EU citizens stop by for a visit. I’m glad that in 2050, Europe isn’t just a continent; it’s a home for all.

Memoiren

related stories

Un espoir de bonheur collectif.

A European future capable of managing international crises with clear and precise objectives. Perhaps a new constitution less oriented towards a liberal economy (which doesn't mean freedom at all) but more towards respect for individual freedoms in relation to multinationals, more ecology, more autonomy in terms of food self-sufficiency. A greater capacity for energy autonomy, too, by being inventive in this area. Mass investment in research in this field would be an option. Regaining our pharmaceutical sovereignty would be reassuring. It would also be reassuring to see a return to social progress, and to stop blaming the weakest members of society (women, the unemployed, immigrants, etc.), who are not responsible for the crises we're going through. The culprits are the economic system (mainly liberal) and over-protected professional politicians. Limiting personal fortunes might be an interesting way of avoiding an oligarchic drift.

2040 début de la sobriété énergétique

on january 1, 2040, the european union will ban all individual vehicles, whatever their mode of propulsion. Subsidies have been distributed European citizens to invest in bicycles, be they 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers or family sedans. All cities are pedestrianized, and to get from one city to another, or from one country to another, numerous train and streetcar tracks have been created. The entire agricultural system has been overhauled and intensive productivity banished. Sobriety is on the march

Leben in 2040

As I'm getting older, I want to live as lightly as possible. Less work in the garden and more relaxing on the terrace. Everything should be as easy to reach as possible, i.e. shopping facilities, doctors, hospital, swimming pools, physiotherapy practices, etc. There are also plenty of "meals on wheels", as people hardly ever cook for themselves anymore. Cabs should be free so that people are a little less dependent on public transport. Everything should be easily accessible on foot or in a wheelchair.

Klimaneutrale Bildungsfreundliche Zukunft

I imagine that mobility will become much more individualized - there will be cars/small aircraft that drive autonomously and can be called up at any time from wherever you want to go. Of course, the vehicles are climate-neutral and connected in such a way that there are no traffic jams or delays. Our education starts from an early age (even in kindergarten), there are appropriately small groups/classes. The teachers are well trained and can respond well to the children. So that they learn to enjoy education and feel self-efficacious and open up the world on their own. In school there is no more learning to forget but more knowledge to apply and how to learn. Because developments are very rapid. There won't be one profession that you learn for life. There will be no more truck colonies with enormous consumption, the electricity will come from renewable energies, at every house, garage, crash barrier, etc. Electricity can also be easily stored induvidually. Natural disasters are becoming fewer again, the weather is stabilizing.

#OurFutures

I hope my grandkids listen in disbelief about my tales of the past

Join #OurFutures now!