Daily Prompt – 12/26/25 – Survivor Literacy

Daily Prompt – 12/26/25

You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing.

What’s it like?

It almost feels frivolous to write about a prompt like this. Honestly, today’s prompt was actually, “What’s you’re all-time favorite automobile?” So, I skipped to tomorrow’s.

Still, it feels like a treat.

The Desk

I spens a lot of time at my desk, so it seems like a natural starting point.

A truly functional desk would have a lot of movable parts. The platform for my laptop would be independent of other platforms. Built into the wall are various sized compartments that pop out when pushed containing pens, pencils, and a variety of office supplies. Pushing horizontal panels in the wall results in more platforms for writing and managing notes. These platforms can be tilted at any angle and come equipped with various clips to hold documents in place. Near the bottom a series of panels pop out a row of filing cabinets, and a cabinet with paper supplies. Vertical platforms pop out screens for working on big projects and watching media.

A narrow column of shelves runs up the wall with a variety of charging capabilities. The entire setup would be made from reclaimed or found treated wood to look like the base of a very large tree, with exposed steampunk workings and decorations that don’t interfere with comfort. A variety of philodendrons cover the area giving a green color contrast to the rich brown and brass of the hardware.

I would have a similar desk in the same room for my kiddo, complete with earbuds. (That’s not a dig. She is incredibly considerate, and they are really helpful for making it so we can do different things, and still cuddle.)

Lighting and Windows

There would be a large oval window complete with window seat. The window would be framed with vines, and have a button for reducing glare, dimming, or creating privacy. The window would look out to the west, and my beloved Rockies. The ceiling would have a large oval skylight that matches the window with the seat.

The lights look light steampunk faery houses, hanging from the ceiling, and mushrooms coming from the walls are touch lights.

The desk would have several touch lighting settings.

I would use every technology available to reduce the blue light in the room, because my eyes are incredibly sensitive.

Seating

The desk chair would be one of those chairs where you could sit forward or backward. There would also be features built in to the area for changing position, with padded ridges, etc. I would also have some physical therapy features built in. I would have a rope setup above my head for creating traction in my spine, and doing the exercises to keep my shoulders in place. If I could add weights as well too, with one set of ropes I could have a pretty thorough upper body physical therapy station built in. Optionally weighted pedals would provide bike and resistance for my lower body.

Several features would be heated.

The window seat would have adjustable seating, for whatever positioning might be less painful on any given day, with room for one of my kiddos to come cuddle up with me. There’d be a recessed shelf so our drinks don’t get spilled.

The concave window makes it feel like we’re hovering outside.

Above the desks is a loft layer which is entirely cushioned

We’d probably have one of these too.

Sound

My kiddo and I would probably consume audio/visual media in this room as well, so we might as well put a speaker system into the walls and make them look like mushrooms too.

Library

A cave entry connects the library to the main room, with motion activated lighting that makes the area you are in glow. Any shelf can be lit by touch, and will dim off in 30 seconds. A double tap extends this.

The room is rounded, but still squarish.

A steampunk cave feel gives “underground lair.” All of the shelves can be pushed back to the wall revealing a trap door which, when opened, leads down to a smaller room with lights that look like glowing torches on the wall. The couch is a large sleeping dragon coiled around the room, and the pillows are his treasure. There is a very large screen extending the full length of the wall and another in the trap door ceiling, for movie nights or immersive planetarium experiences.