THE HOT SHOWER INCUBATOR BY GIANMARCO PETRELLI

Growing up, my family and I could never afford an Xbox.

Never a PS1, 2 or 3. Definitely not the 4.

I never had the typical outlet of video gaming that most people my age had.

The ways that I found an “outlet” we’re a bit nonconventional.

One outlet I found growing up was the shower. Specifically, a warm one.

While some kids may have not wanted to get clean, I loved to go the bathtub.

Our bathroom had this unique molding that, through some very imaginative lenses, I interpreted

to be a futuristic city that was interconnected through a complex intrarail system fueled by

hydropower.

Every shampoo bottle, bar of soap, body soap dispenser was a building in this Jetson’s like city.

Often times within this microstate, there were feuds that broke out between different factions

that ultimately called for a Star Wars like attack of a certain building. (i.e. the shower head being

put on one specific area.)

This caused for many social movements, rise of leaders, fall of buildings, and major government

relations shifts amongst the citizens of this microstate.

I probably wasted hundreds of gallons of water for the countless amount of time I spent in the

shower over the years, but I think it was worth it.

Every time I’m in the shower to this day, I still feel the remnants of that city. Something about

the steam and the aimless actions of washing your hair gets my mind ticking.

I think about the potential that can come from where I am.

What can I make with what I have?

What can I see in something that no one else has seen before?

While it might just be seeing my shampoo as the military base for this imaginary city, I think my

time in the shower is a sacred space where the ideas flow.

I look forward to every time I can get in there, find some solutions, open my pores, and mind.