The need for Leisure

The founders of Heim University realised that, as far as possible, life on Alpha should be at least as pleasant as living in a small university town on earth. They understood that living permanently or spending long periods in artificial environments could pose considerable physiological and psychological challenges for some. For this reason, in the habitat planning and design phase, they placed a great deal of importance on the provision of leisure facilities and activities, believing that they were the key to social cohesion and contentment. The habitats were designed to be interesting and pleasing to the eye, as well as being comfortable in terms of temperature and climatic conditions. The unofficial Heim motto is 'work hard, but play hard and enjoy life'. The setting aside of time for leisure was encouraged from the very beginning of settlement, but overcoming the enthusiasm and drive for work sometimes proved hard to do.

The need for Exercise

For people spending time in micro-g conditions, such as on long journeys or in certain surface base areas, physical exercise was absolutely essential to their health and wellbeing, because a number of undesirable physical changes can occur under prolonged exposure to micro or zero gravity. For others living and working in pseudo-gravity areas it's not such a problem, but physical exercise is encouraged.

The founders also realised that a regular physical exercise routine is unlikely to be followed, unless it is enjoyed. For that reason, a wide range of sporting and recreational activity was to be offered in both Oldtown and Newtown.

Entertainment, Recreation and Leisure Circle

An Entertainment, recreation and Leisure Circle was formed to oversee the provision of all recreation/leisure activities. Now that the development phase is complete, its main and continuing function is to make sure that what is on offer is what people want, so it welcomes suggestions from all. Those providing these activities are seen to be filling a very important role in Heim society.

Sports and Recreation Facilities

A significant portion of the top floor levels in the Towns is devoted to various forms of exercise and leisure.

Sports and exercise facilities include playing fields for soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, baseball, and athletics, running tracks, tennis and squash courts, lawn bowls, ten pin bowling, basketball, and even a small golf course. There is also a pathway, alongside the roadway in the circular 'equatorial' inter-dome tunnel, which can be used by cyclists, walkers and runners.

Of course, many of the 'ball' sports involve special challenges with regard to the effects of living inside a rotating body. These, which were discussed in an earlier History chapter, are mainly the various coriolis effects.[see Chapter 36]

The effect of what is called tangential coriolis is twofold. The first is that a person moving in a prograde direction (the direction of spin) feels heavier but lighter when moving in a retrograde direction, and the second is that when an object rolls or is thrown it will appear to curve away from the direction of spin from the point of reference of the hitter, thrower or bowler. This is why playing fields, tennis courts and pitches, and the like, are all orientated in a cross-spin direction, so as not to give advantage to one player, or team. However, as every movement of a ball across a pitch is for all practical purposes a curve, it takes the learning of new skills to judge the ball's arrival point based on the distance and the force applied. Consequently, there is some (somewhat unkind) amusement to be found in watching newcomers' attempts to bowl a cricket ball, pitch a baseball or intercept a tennis serve.

Another coriolis effect is called the Canal Syndrome. Turning the head from side to side too quickly can confuse the vestibular system (ear canal) inducing nausea. Fortunately, people seem to be adaptable and quickly manage to compensate for these effects. Recreational activities less affected by coriolis effects are swimming, boating and rowing, walking, and climbing (although climbing has its own problems) Also, cycling, walking or running through the inter-dome tunnel is harder going one way than the other.

Friendly sporting challenges, competitions and other events between Circles, and between the Towns, are the norm.

Other activities

Other daytime outdoor facilities are children's playgrounds, picnic and barbecue areas and open-air concert venues and tea gardens.

Evening venues and activities include dancing, concerts and theatre, street concerts, nightclubs, restaurants and bars. In the nightclubs, restaurants and bars, excellent Farm-produced beers and wines are served. By consensus, there is strictly no hard liquor and, of course, no 'recreational' drugs.

For other tastes, there are leisure studies and courses, arts and crafts, music making, comedy and theatre, folk music clubs, jazz clubs, chess and Go tournaments, and many others.

Leisure hours

Formal working hours do not exist but, generally, people are encouraged stop working or studying in the evenings, at weekends and on designated holidays. Taking occasional longer breaks, to 'recharge', is also advised. However, as always on Heim worlds, it is up to the individual to decide for him or herself.

There is always something going on somewhere, especially weekends, evenings and holidays, but for those who wish to spent time at home, there are TV and radio channels and streamed movies available.

Many of the people work in physically or mentally taxing and challenging conditions on the Heim worlds, making relaxing and socializing doubly important out here. Those who's natural inclination to be loners are encouraged to socialize and, to this end, the Circle endeavours to make leisure facilities as attractive, varied and entertaining as possible and encourages group dining.