A Gift for Tomorrow

By Robert Gounley

OASIS is 25 years old. That's reason to celebrate.

To some, the idea of a celebration may sound hollow. When OASIS was founded, many of its founders believed that by 2003 space settlement and industrialization would be an accomplished fact. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of the space enthusiasts of the 70s and 80s would live and work in space. The Moon would be mined to furnish raw materials for Solar Power Satellites that could light the Earth without pollution or fossil fuels. By 2003, some believed space colonies would be home for a new generation of pioneers.

Twenty-five years have passed and we're still on Earth. Why celebrate?

When I joined the L5 Society, predecessor of the National Space Society, there were no local chapters of a space activist organization anywhere. OASIS was the first. Since then, many other chapters followed. Some have folded — victims of changing priorities and leadership burnout. OASIS endures.

I believe OASIS continues because Southern California brings to itself a near limitless supply of free-thinking futurists and innovators - the ones much of the world label "kooks". They find homes here and, if they're interested in space, sooner or later they will attend an OASIS event.

What will they find? People like themselves. People looking for a reality to match the future depicted in science fiction. Many will have their own agenda on how this should be accomplished. Some agendas may not agree. That's OK. OASIS has been a sounding board for dozens of ideas over the years. We've weathered passionate debate before and will do so again.

OASIS Booth at the Loscon Science Fiction Convention 2000.

That's the joy of it. We're united by lofty goals and channel that energy into public outreach. I estimate OASIS has sponsored over 100 public events. If one of those lectures or parties encouraged just one person to pursue their dream, that would be enough. That person could change the future of space development. The means for building the world we dream of is about us – we need only seek it out and nurture it a little. By celebrating our dream, we give a gift to the future.

I had reason to reflect on this during a recent trip to the East Coast. During a family outing, my godmother greeted me with a bright smile and warm gaze that thick eyeglasses could not diminish. She talked a bit before casually mentioning that she had a gift for my wife and I. My mind turned to home-baked cookies or perhaps some old family photos. Still smiling, my godmother announced that she was giving us a present for our silver anniversary.

I was stunned. My wife and I have been married less than three years. Why a gift now?

Still smiling, gave a shrug of mild resignation. She was going to be 81 this year, she explained. Why wait until 2025 when she probably won't be around? We should enjoy the gift now.

There must have been some doubt in my face. She assured me that this is what she wanted to do.

I've learned never to cross little, old Italian ladies. My wife and I accepted the gift and thanked my godmother profusely.

So it is with OASIS. We will celebrate a dream that is yet to be. I'm confident we'll see the foundations of that dream set in our lifetimes. Call it faith.

As for my godmother, I think she's being uncharacteristically pessimistic. Her own mother enjoyed a happy life before passing away at the age of 99. I remain hopeful that my godmother's lifetime of strict diet and regular exercise will enable her to live past 103.

When she does, I look forward to talking to her about dreams come true.

View photographs from the banquet in the Gallery.