Splaine: Portsmouth's 2123 time capsule: What is your message to people in 100 years?

Wanted: People who would like to put a message into a time capsule that will be opened in 100 years. It'll probably be the closest we ever come to time travel itself.

This is not going to be your typical time capsule. Hint: It'll be unique, and will be more like a vehicle, a vessel, for thinking about our future. Sort of like an interactive omnipresent reminder that our tomorrows really can be affected by what we do today.

And if we do it right, this time capsule can challenge people who will call Portsmouth their home during the coming ten decades to think about their own futures in ways we cannot do today.

There will be more details during the next few weeks leading up to its sealing at noon on Dec. 31, but for right now anyone can begin thinking about what to say to those who will be living in Portsmouth in 100 years.

That might make for good discussion during this coming week's Thanksgiving gatherings. It would also be an easy way to avoid talking about politics and religion, or weight.

If this sounds like deja vu, it might be because readers may remember that I have written about a time capsule buried some time ago that hasn't been found yet.

Some details: Capping off a several-year effort some 30 years ago called "The Portsmouth 2020 Vision Project," a time capsule was buried in front of Portsmouth High School on June 29, 1995. That project began on May 22, 1991, with a large event at Yoken's Restaurant with people offering their visions and predictions of the year 2020.

Among speakers was Mayor Eileen Foley, who said that in 2020 we would all walk around with computers in our pockets.

Remember, that was the time of radio telephones, cassette tapes, VCRs, Windows 95, and dial-up AOL "You've Got Mail" technology.

City Manager James McSweeney predicted that sea level rise would be the major concern for Portsmouth. Most of the 80 people in the audience laughed at that. What − the sea actually rising?

Well, we buried our time capsule, but despite pictures that we took and that were in newspapers, we kind of can't find it. We've dug test holes and used metal detectors and underground radar, but it's still buried.

Yes, embarrassing, but we haven't given up. This past week, former Mayor Bob Lister, who helped facilitate burial, and I met with City Manager Karen Conard for new ideas. She's good at that. We figure that wherever it is, it is there.

We've designed a unique strategy to track the 2123 time capsule, and you can be involved:

• Write letters to your family of 2123. In 100 years, some people who live here may be your descendants and will love hearing from you.

• If you run a restaurant, include a menu. If you're still open then, you might get new customers.

• If you own a business, enclose a list of your employees. Add some cancelled checks to show your pay scale. You won't have to worry about being audited.

• If you're in an organization, write about your accomplishments, how you started, what your mission is, who you're helping.

• Write your predictions about the future of your neighborhood, or Portsmouth, or the world, whatever. List your hopes and dreams for your family and friends.

• Try being a journalist and write a story about Portsmouth set in 2123. Be inventive, creative, visionary. What will buildings be like then? How will people get around? How will climate change affect our city? What will people do for entertainment? What will be the fashions of the times? Will space aliens say hello?

• If you paint or draw, or if you're an architect or developer, give a try at showing the Portsmouth of 2123. People who look at your creation in a hundred years might marvel at your accuracy, or not.

• What will the politics of 2123 be like? Locally and nationwide?

Just have fun with this. Make it a family activity. Ways to deposit those letters in the time capsule will come soon. Let the magic begin.

Next time: Making your own do-it-yourself time capsule.

Variously since 1969, Jim Splaine has been Portsmouth assistant mayor for six terms, Police Commission and School Board member, as well as New Hampshire state senator for six years and representative for 24 years. He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouth@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Portsmouth 2123 time capsule: What's your message to future?