Space is running out, and nobody knows what to do about this odd problem. There is a shortage of cemetary space for the unknown or indigent bodies on hand with nobody to step forward, claim the body, and defray the costs of a funeral.
So it is time to get creative and find another solutions to this land shortage for the poor but nonetheless dead, of us who find themselves totally and altogether dead.
So I have come up with a new concept of dealing with the dead.
We are all familiar with the concept of “Air B’n B.”, where people can rent accommodations for their vacation stays.” MY idea is “Earth B & B.” I don’t call it exactly a cemetery but a rental space for the formerly living.
I don’t think that death is a funny matter, and I’m sure it’ll be even less funny when its my turn to share the experience with my ancestors.
But rumor has it that I have no way of escaping the fate of so many others. Notice that I refrained from stating “the fate of ALL others.” The reason for that turn of phrase is that we can’t be absolutely sure of all occasions at all times. For example, Anastasia. Does anyone
know for certain, what happened to her and what her story ending is? There have been books, movies, and even a Broadway show about her confusing disappearance, but no solid proof of her fate.
And what about the three convicts who escaped from Alcatraz prison in California? Nobody can guarantee whether they escaped still walk among us, or whether they lost the challenge to survive those vicious seas in their small boat, and now lie with the sea creature in Alcatraz Bay.
My plan, a cemetery rental can help with the short space problem. Some American Indian tribes solved their similar problem by stacking bodies; several bodies rest, one on top of the other. In a space-saving cemetery. Visit one grave and be rewarded by honoring several generations of your departed in one single trip. It just takes starting with one very deep hole for the placement of the first departed one in the first coffin.
But my “Earth B&B” idea, rents the space for a coffin to be buried in. I think it is a great idea. The trouble is that I haven’t gotten to the next step, which is evicting one dead guest for the next to arrive.
But I’m working on it.
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "Air B ‘n B: updated concept" (21)
Food for thought… I was ashen-faced at the thought of yet another planetary crisis!
Re Anastasia – the end of her story came when Prince Philip, the Queenls husband gave his blood to check out Anastasia’s DNA – he had Romanov ancestors – it was proved that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia, but a Polish factory worker, who became mentally unbalanced after a factory accident.
The final nail in her story was when all the bodies of the Tsar and his family were exhumed, and again, using Prince Philip and Prince Michael of Kent’s DNA, all the bodies were found to be Nicholas, and his wife, and all five children, as well as their physician, Doctor Botkin…The remains received a funeral and were, I think, buried in St Petersburg.
Valerie., thank you for clarifying my Anastasia reference. It was such a sad story.
So good to hear from you, Valerie.
As you have pointed out, there is a need to give new thought to ‘body disposal’.
Personally, I like the interesting things that can be done with cremation ashes – use them in fireworks, add them to concrete to make paving stones, incorporated in man-made coral reefs, compressed into diamonds. All would solve the space problem!
Margy, you’re far more knowledgeable than I am about these things. Do you think that, just as we can donate our body parts to science, we could donate our ashes to specific projects?Can I send my ashes to a reef building project in Turks and Caicos, where I once enjoyed snorkeling?
Not sure on the specifics of reef building – except it probably has a cost component!
By the way, an uncle wished to have his body donated to medical science. It was, and later the family got a phone call telling them to come and pick up his ashes. No one apparently read the fine print that said the family ultimately had to deal with the body. Not sure who had to pay for the cremation.
There seems to be no limit to what people will do for a chance to make a few extra dollars. How horrible that the institution that received your uncle’s body to use for medical research had the nerve to bill the family for his remains.
Not sure if the institute billed them anything, but there will be some sort of financial or emotional cost for the family to now bury him!
I wonder if that information was written in the small print on whatever document the family signed.
Most likely – but if the deceased made the arrangements before he died, the family might not have known that – but I’m speculating…
Now that Catholicism accepts cremation that should save a lot of space
So that gives another option to lots more people…
Ronnie, I must say you’ve given a lot of thought to something most of are not considering! I have just presumed the time would come when everyone would need to go the cremation route. Good for you for considering future options! They’re a little unwieldy, but give it time and I’m sure you’ll work this out. LOL!
This subject was from a story in last week’s Wall Street Journal about the scarcity of land available to the indigent for burial. It wasn’t my idea at all;I just added some of my version of humor to it!
I agree with stacking on a temporary basis, but also agree that after a very short time, cremation has to be the solution. Scatter their ashes wherever they were found or put them as fertilizer around a tree. Bodies can’t be saved forever. Sorry if I sound cruel.
There’s no great solution; some may think that allowing the insects underground to feast on human remains is cruel…
innovative and necessary for sure;LAST SUNDAY ON SUNDAY MORNING TODAYWITH JANE PAULEY, THAT VERY DILEMMA WAS AMONG THE TOPICS ADDRESSED, ANDMEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RACE, WE FALL INTOTHE CATEGORY OF NEVER SECURELY DETERMININGOUR ULTIMATE OUTCOME, REGARDLESS OF OUR ORIGINAL STATUS OF A FINANCIALLY SAFE BACKGROUNDWHICH CAN SWITCH ON THE TOSS OF A COIN.I WAS WATCHING THIS ISSUE SURMOUNTING HOMELESSPEOPLE IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS AND IN ECUADOR, WHERE THEYSTACK BODIES ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER AND HAVE ANALLOWED AMOUNT OF TIME TO STAY THERE , LIKE FIVE, YEARS, AND IF ON CLAIMS THEM THEY ARE PLACED ELSEWARE, PROBABLY CREMATED, AFER GIVING THESOULD A FAIR CHANCE OF BEING PLACED IN A FAMILYPLOT
That solution works for me; I wonder what the title is of the person who’s job it is to make the decision.
Go the condo route. Just dig deep holes and stack them one on top of another. No need to eject anyone. Fun stuff, Ronnie.
An engineering firm could figure out how deep the hole would have to be; can we choose who we would like to be out eternal roommates?
You could actually sell spots on top of others. Like you want to be on top of a doctor = so much. A lawyer = so much less.
…and who determines the value of people?…