Around the Bluhmin’ Town

By

Judy Bluhm

Looking for a great deal? Or perhaps a gift for someone who has everything? I have good news! I just bought one acre, and I only paid thirty-nine bucks! That’s right, you heard it – a steal. Okay, so it is a bit far away (238,855 miles), but the views are “out of this world.” I just bought land on the moon! I gave the deed to a grandson who loves stargazing.

My friend bought his wife an acre on the moon for her birthday, and when he presented her the deed he wrote on a card, “Because I love you to the moon and back.” So romantic!

You, too, can be the proud “owner” of galactic property. If the moon doesn’t thrill you, then consider Mars, Venus or Jupiter. So far, over 500 million lunar acres have been sold! A woman emailed me to say that she had purchased ten “moon acres” for her husband’s birthday gift, because he’s always complaining about “needing more space.” Evidently, he is not thrilled with one neighbor’s barking dogs, the other neighbor’s “yard junk” and the horse flies. She said when evaluating the prices of land, she thought that the moon was a pretty good deal.

Sadly, legal experts claim that you cannot legally own land on the moon (or other planets). That’s because the Outer Space Treaty prohibits private land ownership on the moon and international law does not recognize the sale of lunar land as valid. Well, that hasn’t stopped folks (and nuts like me) from buying.

The genius (or crook?) behind this scheme (I mean celestial land sales) is a fellow called Dennis Hope, the “Big Cheese” of Lunar Embassy. This guy is not an ordinary lunatic! He has made a truckload of money from “lunar sales” and claims that it is entirely legal, since the 1967 U.N. Outer Space Treaty excluded nations from owning celestial bodies, but did not mention individual claims.

When you purchase this “moon land” you get a Lunar Deed, Plat Map and Constitution. Each property is guaranteed a “gorgeous view” of Earth. There are no restrictions, building codes, seller disclosures or zoning issues to worry about. Is this the answer to affordable housing? Maybe not.

Getting to your extraterrestrial property might pose a bit of a challenge. For one person to decide to venture out alone, it would cost approximately 900 million dollars. Spaceships and rocket launching pads are not cheap! After a few emails with an “Ambassador” from the Lunar Embassy, it was determined that with the advent of “space adventure” being made available in the near future, a “land rush” on Mars will ensue.

Look up! There is an entire universe out there waiting for us to explore (or inhabit). The key to sensible growth, managing our resources and saving our environment might lie in outer space. Oh, I have heard that you can buy a rock pile in Saturn for five bucks an acre, but it might not have the best views. I guess you get what you pay for.

Dear Readers, have a stellar week and reach for the stars.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Contact Judy at [email protected]or visit www.aroundthebluhmintown.com.