Increasing populations
Recently the local newspaper did a historical review of its corporate origins and growth. What made me pause was a table showing the growth in population over the last century. The province of Quebec has grown from 1.5 million to just over 7 million in one hundred years. The city of the same name has grown from 150,000 to just over 700,000 in the same time period. Very balanced numbers. They certainly poke a hole in the myth that the country mouse has become the city mouse.
My office is also facing population growth, but we don’t have great expanses of wooded lands to clearcut as we grow. Instead, we’re practicing the tried and true technique of the “shoehorn”. Can we fit another desk in here? Sure, as long as we can get rid of those pesky knees and elbows.
I get called in to assure the networking aspect; in fact, we can always add another hub and just suck up the drop in speed. No big deal; we’re an office, not a research centre. Until the electrical inspector pays a surprise visit, the extension cord and power bar provide all the infrastructure needed.
This afternoon, those around me were playing with measuring tapes and grid paper. I am very afraid… My cubicle is my home away from home, and the three worktables, a filing cabinet full of broken computer parts and the two uncomfortable chairs are MINE. The idea that we can take an office area that supported two people only a decade ago, then three, then four can magically find comfort room for a fifth person is one that I’m going to have to sleep on. Perchance to dream. Aye, there’s the rub, for this dream is about to turn into our tribute to increasing populations.
