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Habitable Planet

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Dear Dr. Babooner,

My girlfriend is very excited about the fresh discovery of a possibly habitable planet just 20 light years from Earth. This weeks’ articles about Gliese 581g have her making big plans for our eventual transfer there so we can raise the first human children on a new world.
I love my girlfriend for her imagination and her big-picture way of thinking, but I don’t think she’s considering the effect that moving to a new planet might have on our relationship.

20 light years is close in astrophysical terms, but still rather far away. How will we get there and still be young enough to enjoy the adventure?

The planet has one side that always faces its sun (and another side that never does). I assume we would live on the daylight side, but how could our romance continue if there’s no nighttime?

Gliese 581g orbits its sun every 38 days, so years will go by much more quickly. Will she still love me when I’m 264?

Gliese (the name of the star) is pronounced GLEE-za. This will constantly remind me of the TV show Glee!, which I despise. Plus, they say the planet might be habitable because it is situated in an orbit that is “not too hot” and “not too cold”. They call this “The Goldilocks Zone”. Between Glee and Goldilocks, I’m afraid this world would be far too precious to support life.

I love my girlfriend but how can I get her to choose Me over Gliese 581g?

Sincerely,
Earthbound

I told Earthbound that it is not necessary to force this choice, since the first transport to Gliese 581g probably will not leave for another 100 years or so. But it does raise the question – why is she so motivated to get away? Perhaps this hunger for interplanetary travel is her way of saying she’s restless in the relationship, or maybe she has already moved on emotionally and is fantasizing about getting together with private space tourism pioneer Richard Branson. My advice – play along with this crazy ambition up to (but not beyond) the point of putting a down payment on your passage to Gliese 581g. She might just lose interest in the trip, if she hasn’t already lost interest in you.

But that’s just one person’s opinion. What do YOU think, Dr. Babooner?

39 thoughts on “Habitable Planet”

  2. As someone in the travel industry, I would have to say “Don’t travel anywhere until they have some decent infrastructure.” Unless you are a serious pioneer and like the thought of having to dig a well before you can have a glass of water. And besides, I think you can only get to Gliese 581g in 20 years if you’re going the speed of light – which can be hell on your hairdo!

    I’ll stay put here on Earth with my mega-chore list today. If I don’t get back here today, I’ll see the BBC (Blevins Book Club) tomorrow at 3.

    And, I’m seconding Barb’s “Happy Birthday, Joanne”!!!!

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  4. Good Morning and Happy Birthday, Joanne,

    I think Earthbound’s girlfriend is asking for a lot if she wants him to travel to a very distant planet. There is a Woody Guthrie song where he tells about all the things he did to win over a girlfriend. I don’t remember the Gutherie song exactly but I think walked many miles as part of his efforts to impress and did a lot of other things. I think even Woody would have to draw a line at traveling 20 light years into space. Of course, you might be the new space age version of Woody. If you are that new version of Woody, you better get to work on finding a way to make the trip. If you can make that trip, I think you don’t have to worry, as Woody did, about doing enough to impress your girl friend.

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  5. Greetings! I’m not sure what to tell Earthbound, but I wanted to thank you all for your kind birthday wishes. We’re renting a truck and finishing up the moving today, so I don’t have anything fun planned. Hoping I can convince dear husband to drive me to the BBC gathering tomorrow (even though I haven’t read or know of the book) just to gather with fellow baboons. Not sure — will you be prepared, Sherrilee just in case? Have a great day, everyone — going to karate for a 9:30am class.

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    1. I just can’t imagine it never being dark (or never being light). One of the best things that Earth’s got going for it is that “tomorrow is another day”, and you can only do that where there is a day and a night. Even with all of Earth’s woes, better stay here.

      HB, Joanne, and hope you can make it tomorrow.

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    2. ill pick you up at the train if that works this time joanne. late check in sorry
      hey happy birthday joanne you’re a special prt of the blog and a model of how to make lemonade. thanks for the contribution to the blog and the planet. hope your sticking around for a while. i hear rent is a little high for what you get in space so be careful. you could own your own health food store though there isn’t another for a galaxie and a half. it the delivery time onweekly reorders that is a killer.

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      1. Tim — you are so awesome to offer me a ride again. I checked the schedule and it doesn’t quite jive. I would either be 2 hours early or 45 minutes late to BBC and the last train to Big Lake leaves at 4:55. Talking to hubby again to see if he would be willing to drive with me. I think he would fit in well with group, too. Plus we have to finish up some moving and cleaning tomorrow, but I definitely need a break and some time to celebrate my birthday!

        And thanks for your kind words, Tim.

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  6. Happy birthday Joanne – and happy anniversary Clyde.

    I can’t imagine living somewhere without night. I know my ancestors lived in Norway, but far enough south that they weren’t in the “land of the midnight sun” portion of the country (though Grandma’s side was far enough north that they got some of that). I suppose if you live in a place where parts of the year you get no sun, having sun for 24 hours is probably a nice break. But sun all day every day? Probably not recommended for someone like me who sunburns in about 5 minutes. Besides, I like it dark when I sleep – so if I did live on Gliese 5819 I’d have to have a dark dark room to retreat to for 8-10 hours a day.

    I think you have hit it, though, Dr. Babooner. Play along with your girlfriend’s crazy idea up to, but not including, buying a ticket for transporting yourself away. If she starts to press, you can tell Girlfriend that with a 20-light-year travel time, Junior might be born on the way there, so your grandkids would be more likely be the first kids on Gliese 5819.

    Looking forward to seeing folks tomorrow!

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  7. Happy Birthday Joanne and early greetings to Dale who will celebrate on Monday. Can I ask Dr Babooner how old these 2 bloggers would be on Gliese 5819? Enjoy the candles in your porridge!

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  8. Oh, have a great book meeting tomorrow! Happy birthday, Joanne! Today is bulb planting day. We’re putting in 130 tulips, 100 scillas and glories of the snow, and 25 hyacinths. We haven’t refreshed our bulbs for many years, and now we have the flowerbed space to do so. Our terrier will be very excited as we dig holes, and I imagine she will assist with the digging. It’s a beautiful day.

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  9. Realized I hever really answered the question. I’m thinking you both are going to have to look into cryogenics and get yourselves “frozen” for the hundred years it takes to be transport ready. Then you may want to do the same for the 20 year journey…

    Inspiring, Renee, I’m going to have to get out and do something!

    Off topic: anyone know how to deter a woodpecker from continuing to peck at the corner of our back porch, where he had made a hole that “we” filled with this foam stuff, but now he’s pecking at the foam. I’m going to put an extra suet feeder out there, but any other ideas would be welcome.

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    1. If the woodpecker is still bothering the hole, there must still be insects and/or insect larvae in the hole. Get rid of the food and you’ll get rid of the woodpeckers. Just think of all the Spring bulbs you could plant on those new planets.

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      1. Agree. Experience has taught me few thinks but that unless you cover or replace the wood they will be back. I doubt feeding birds has much to do with this. Studies show that feeding birds has no impact on their health or habits.

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    3. Thanks for thought, everyone. Yes, the woodpeckers were around on a dying tree even before I started feeders. We did try some metal over it… I think you’re right, Clyde, we should replace the wood.

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  10. Happy Birthday, Joanne.
    Hope you had a great karate class to celebrate on a beautiful day.
    We are hoping to stay pretty close to our current home and cozifying it as much as possible before it gets too frosty.

    I would suggest that Earthbound and his girlfriend do sort of a practice run here before they start packing in earnest. Find an isolated area to rent a place, turn off the water and put floodlights outside all the windows to simulate the neverending day all over the property. Nobody to talk to but each other and you would be living on whatever you thought to bring with you.

    Always good to give things a trial run before committing.

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  11. Rise and Shine Great Apes!

    I’m late this a.m. My mother, sister and bro-in-law are here for the weekend so my routine is off.

    BF, your GF sounds a little weird to me, but then having my feet off of the planet earth gets that nauseous phobia thing going, so of course I suspect her of weirdness. Frankly, if she is emotionally invested in Gliese and not you, it is a real downer. But maybe this is just a fantasy she will out grow. Who knows.

    Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to the discussion of the book at Sherilee’s. After reading that book I’m always grateful for my life and my parents.

    Renee, I ordered bulbs from Breck’s and they are not here yet. I have bulb envy!

    HB Joanne. Happy weekend all.

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  12. Happy Birthday Joanne! What a day you got.

    BF, this girlfriend sounds like trouble. “Happiness is not a destination, it’s a journey. Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now. Happiness is not a dependency, it is a decision. Happiness is what you are, not what you have.”

    If she can’t be happy with you on earth, she can’t be happy with you anywhere. Tell here that on Gliese there is no cable TV, no cell phone coverage, no toilet paper and no Starbucks. If she still wants to go, you are one lucky puppy. Kiss her goodbye and celebrate your freedom by taking a long walk in a park and then going home to an evening by the fireplace with some nice wine and your favorite takeout.

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  13. I think Earthbound needs to keep his feet on the ground and wait this out. His girlfriend will surely come around, but only when she has some new idea that probably won’t fly either. He’ll have to be a patient man if he wants a family with her. There will likely always be something that will have her insisting on leaving the planet…

    Happy birthday, Joanne.
    Happy anniversary, Clyde.
    BiR: I agree with Renee – it’s probably bugs. They don’t peck holes unless they’re sure they can find food. You can try “Scare Tape” which is supposed to deter them. I have some and it worked for awhile. I was considering NOT feeding birds because of issues like this. They won’t be around if there is no food. Kinda sad, but true.

    Have fun at the BBC all of you book-baboons!

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  14. Sorry. Not my anniversary. This day, Oct. 2, was my mother’s birthday and my parents anniversary.
    What is Wilde’s line “Men marry women for who they are. Women marry men for what they can make of them.” Wilde’s?? Not sure. Don’t believe it’s true.

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  15. Afternoon–

    Happy Birthday Joanne!
    Yep, sure was a great day outside… At our house we all had plans; some worked, some didn’t… buy my son did get the grass mowed even if he didn’t look happy about it (riding mower- what’s he got to complain about, eh?
    Wife was trying to finish scraping wall paper of daughters room and that was delayed by a misplaced scraper… had to improvise but I think she finished.

    Regarding the question of the day… If the opportunity to go were here and now I’d say ‘go for it’ but considering all the things to be worked out yet she’s a little over anxious. Tell her to straighten up and get a life. I think she needs you to be more confident and domineering. And taller. Does she like ‘Glee’? And will it be available out there? Hate to go that far away and still have to live with something you despise…

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  16. im reading bill bryson a really short history of nearly everything so ovviously space travel is covered and the trip will last 50,000 years to go 20 light years with todays fastest vehicles. at 30,000 mph. you may want to go with a colony of folks to avoid the incest probles from 2000 generations of buck toothed , adhd alcholic bald guys with bad backs big fingernails and a good ear.
    is she wants to go congratulate her on finding her path in life and now go find yours buckaroo.

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      1. Funny line.
        Do you know Mr. Bryson now presides over a university in England. See where smart-ass Iowa humor will take you.
        36 degrees out. Is my ancient and hoary body ready to ride in this? Will my lichen-encrusted soul survive the shock of that air on my skin?

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    2. No, tim, I slept in until 8 today. Did 12 miles before going to church in St. Peter–and we could get there. Still a big river around here. 169 closed north of St. Peter but not south.

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      1. enjoy the beautiful day. what a great morning/afternoon.
        gotta love october. i hear the river starts on the decline today.

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