The sky north of Parry Sound on the way to Sudbury seemed to be enormous last weekend.
It seemed bluer and whiter than what we’re use to in southern Ontario. Or maybe for a change our eyes were more open to the world around us.
It was a combination trip – a little business and a little pleasure.
Since our companions for the weekend were all Newspaper guys, industry talk made the long drive go more quickly. The industry we love so much has been in a state of disruption for so long that change seems to be something with which we constantly contend.
We seemed to agree we haven’t found the new normal yet.
Much of the way allowed for a bit of daydreaming about the future. As rock formations sailed past, we acted less like grumpy old Newspaper guys and more like futurists, wondering aloud what the future might hold.
The most intriguing prospect proposed was what would happen if driverless cars took over commuting. Workers, as if they don’t do enough already, could get an extra bit of work done after settling in to the passenger seat. In the spirit of efficiency, other passengers could be picked up along the way, no doubt figured out by an app or some logistics software. Chances are those vehicles would be electric or at the very least a hybrid to conserve fuel and emissions.
Little did we know a few days later we would be reading a story online from Guelph about how that city’s administration would be confronting the issue of “sharing” – whether that be cars, spare rooms or lawnmowers. The point being, these shared resources models are becoming more commonplace, as people realize the savings found in maximizing resources and not insisting on ownership.
All of these things sound great, but they have to be compared against points of convenience, maintenance and whether or not sharers return the item in the shape they found it. There will no doubt be an unconsidered economic impact once all this sharing really starts to happen.
While we won’t dwell on it, one part of us really wonders what the future holds and whether there will be enough meaningful employment for everyone.
The larger reason for this northern sojourn was a long overdue visit to cousin Jim and Carol’s property on Smith Lake. Time isn’t much of an ally for us, so when the chance came up to get as far as Sudbury we made the two-hour trek east to Mattawa.
After getting caught up on family and friends we got a tour on the lake – to see where the swimming was good, the fish were plentiful and the best views were to be found.
For a brief moment as the wind chased along the lake, the cold or allergies that seemed to have plagued us most of the summer disappeared. It was one of those moments time stood still, if only for a few seconds.
Hours later, and 600 kilometers away, memories of the big sky and a quiet moment with friends make us think we need to get that way again.
