Ocean Dwellers

Ocean Dwellers

It was the year 2116. The Earth was overpopulated and neither the Moon or Mars could be colonized in time. Missions for colonization had been planned to start over the next 30 years. As a temporary fix for the food shortage and overpopulation, nearly three billion people were pushed out onto the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian ocean in boats. There were plenty of supplies and fishermen amongst the people which, really, was all they needed to survive. People had to fish to survive and by all means, there was no shortage of fish in the ocean. The small fish were usually let out so they could grow and have eggs. The Ocean Dwellers, is what they were called, had to be smart about which type of fish they caught, which to let go, and which to eat in order to survive all those years. The boats had movable roofs and a submarine mode that lasted for a short period of time, usually three to five days. This let the people survive storms. Everyone had radios and were informed of any storms and their locations which would allow them to steer a different course. The submarine mode was usually a last resort. At any rate, if you asked the Ocean Dwellers if they liked their way of life, it would be hard for them to answer. They do not know what it is like to live on land or eat non-fish meat as we do not know how it is to live on water. The more wise folk would reply with the question “Do you enjoy YOUR way of life on land?”. Most do not particularly like or dislike it. It is just what they had gotten used to and would now be commonplace for them. As we would not be able to accurately imagine how it would be for them, they would not be able to imagine what it is like for us as well. The reason is that it is what is is. A way of life.

There is a moral to this story. And I do hope that you figure it out.