A Greener World and Santa Claus
The holidays season has given me some ideas of how Santa Claus will adapt to a sustainable world. It all started with my new forever stamps, which feature an image of Santa Claus. Other than a warm and seasonable way to send Xmas cards, it all reminded me that we live in an era where Xmas has been saved. But could it be a hint that the post office could be getting faster and more efficient as a way to deliver Xmas presents, especially considering online shopping?
The next hint was that new housing projects are becoming all electric, with no natural gas. Also, people would not want to burn wood anymore, especially since the smoke could affect their allergic neighbors (moi). So maybe these houses would not go to the extent of inserting costly fireplaces and chimneys, which would be unusable. The space could also be a large window, or a space for a large TV. Hence, no chimney entrances for Santa. Going through old chimneys is a real squeeze for Santa, as well, and who cleans chimneys anymore?
Putting these together, I realize that Santa can focus on supervising the elves making, packing and addressing the toys, but shipping them with Santa stamps through standard mail and other delivery service. New homes will have small closets on the driveway, which are open for packages to go in, and when shut will be self locking. For many packages, they can have several compartments. Existing houses will be retrofitted with these. Santa’s other main job is still to study who’s been naughty and nice, keeping a list, and checking it twice. Oddly, this has been a precursor of what information services are compiling and selling for all of us. Then, Santa has to meet children, and find out what they want for Xmas. That of course, is helped by Wish Lists on their cell phones with Amazon and other accounts.
The reindeer can also retire to lush Alaskan fields, as long as we can save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Maybe Santa can give up some of the secrets of how his sled and reindeer fly without burning jet fuel. Not to mention softly landing on rooftops. And, his location system which anticipated GPS, but is still better, since it does it by children’s names.
The Arctic ice pack is rapidly melting seasonally, especially if you are a seal, a polar bear, or a walrus. It may take a while still to reach Santa’s Village at the North Pole. However, there are many US distribution hubs which would be happy to house the relocated elves factory, which would guarantee even faster delivery service, especially during the holidays. I am thinking of the Los Angeles – Long Beach harbor area. And don’t you think that the elves deserve some warmth and sunshine after all those years at the North Pole? Not to mention visits to Disneyland?
The milk and cookies can be consumed by the parents, who distribute the presents under the tree.
