BY LETTER
Megastructural Migration
Long distance migration movements on various giant megastructures | |
 Image from Steve Bowers | |
| Most people on Wadai who participate in the periodic long-distance migrations do so on foot. | |
A societal phenomenon found on some, although by no means all, megastructures. Megastructural Migrations or Moving Days as they are more commonly called, usually take place on those macrostructures with populations occupying only a small percentage of the structures entire habitable area/volume.
Every few centuries, the entire population will transport their entire civilization to a new area of the structure, leaving their previous habitation area 'fallow'. The new area of the structure has been prepared in advance for new inhabitants, usually by a small army of environmental design and construction specialists working in secret for several decades or even centuries. The new area of habitation is designed to be comfortable and safe (mostly), but with an entire range of new designs, environments, and 'artistic touches' intended to fill the newly arrived inhabitants with awe, wonder, and amusement for years to come.
Moving Days generally last for a decade or more and are almost always preceded by announcements and reminders of the upcoming Migration for at least that long in advance. Once the last of the inhabitants have removed themselves from their old habitations, a new group of designers arrives, emplaces privacy fogs and projectors, and sets to work on preparing the fallow region for new inhabitants, perhaps centuries in the future. Being accepted, or better yet invited, to take part in the redesign of a major habitat structure can make the reputation of any aspiring designer. Messing it up, or worse yet, earning the dissatisfaction or displeasure of the inhabitants, can earn one embarrassment and ridicule for centuries.
 Image from Steve Bowers and Bing Image Creator | |
| Some individuals choose to migrate long distances across their home megastructure, using augmentation systems such as Power Stilts | |
Related Articles
- Megastructure
- Megastructure Classification Systems
- Moving Days - Text by Todd Drashner
A more popular term for Megastructural Migration. - Peripatetics - Text by Anders Sandberg
Neo-nomad artificial culture developed in the early 4200's. Peripatetics believed nomadism was the ideal lifestyle, and developed mobile houses and industries to allow them to roam freely across the increasingly large megastructures being built at that time. A break occured early between the less technological side, which eventually integrated with various anthropist, bioist or luddist movements, and the pro-technological side. The pro-techs came to join the MPA, forming the mobile polity Kre Transit. - Wadai (WD 0230-144)
- Walking Cities
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Development Notes
Text by Todd Drashner
Graphic by Steve Bowers
Initially published on 20 September 2003.
Graphic by Steve Bowers
Initially published on 20 September 2003.
