Tales from the ARVInn, 1

Chapter 13
The Origin of ARVInn

Chapter Description: Many projects came about to assist the AR-Adult population. Residential centers were among the most common. One, located in southeast Ohio, quickly became an outstanding example.

Tales from the ARVInn: The Origin of the ARVInn

The early days of the Age Regression Virus outbreak were stressful for everyone. Things were happening that had never happened before.  Not only that, but they seemed to happen at random, with no pattern or cause in sight.  Since the means by which the condition was spread was unknown, it was impossible to say who was at risk or safe.  This meant everyone felt at risk.^{1, 2} 

The widespread nature of the initial cases also raised alarm.  Various terrorist plots were rumored and all kinds of wild conspiracy theories arose.  The panic which developed in the first couple of years led to the most complete shutdown of the world’s commercial and travel networks ever seen.  Even the COVID-19 pandemic of just a few decades before seemed like a minor event.  Panic led to irrational responses, by governments as well as individuals.  Attempts were made to quarantine those affected, but usually were ineffective, since the majority of people quarantined never developed the condition and the means of infection was so poorly understood. 

The hasty, ill-considered and arbitrary nature of most quarantines led to their inevitable comparison to Nazi death camps or Soviet gulags and resistance was almost immediate.  Armed insurrections developed in most countries with any substantial number of cases.  Neighbors attacked neighbors over suspicions or because of distrust.  Various politicians, nations and tribal factions used the occasion to settle old grievances or gain the upper hand.  Trade around the world was disrupted severely, nearly halting in many cases.

It took almost seven years for the situation to become clear enough that major disruptions were reduced.  Peace did not return to the world completely until 2059.  By this time, famine, disease and fighting had taken far more of a toll than the virus itself ever did.  It must be emphasized that there are no documented cases anywhere in the world of a person dying from age regression itself.  WHO estimated that nearly seven hundred fifty million people died from all causes during the turmoil, nearly one in twelve around the world.³ Sadly, the destruction occurred most prominently in the Third World, where huge numbers perished due to lack of resources.  The age regression effect of the virus, at worst, seems to have affected no more than three percent of any population and far less than that for most.  This still produced many victims, but nothing to equal the viciousness of the fighting that had erupted and the devastation which led to massive famines in large parts of the world. 

It was at this dark point that more humanitarian actions started to come to the front in the struggle with ARV.  Governments largely ended mass incarcerations and people on the street came to see that the virus was not spreading wildly to everyone around its victims, as had been feared at the beginning.   Arising from the death and destruction, the grassroots World Peace Movement (WPM) had its genesis, which has since led to an unprecedented level of humanitarian cooperation worldwide, as well as the end of a number of dictatorial governments.

The United States was not as profoundly affected by the violence as many nations, but had its share of problems, including many riots and three instances of armed insurrection.  The country as a whole was jarred by these incidents and came together as never before.  Its government soon became the leading voice of caution and moderation, establishing a number of social programs to alleviate the hardships of the worldwide breakdown and threatening the use of massive force to bring about an end to a number of regional conflicts. Several pieces of legislation dealing with the effects of ARV were passed, culminating in the ARV Victims Act of 2062, which essentially restored all rights and privileges to those affected by ARV.

One such effort, which eventually gave the entire movement its name, began in southeastern Ohio, in the US.  A few miles outside the city of Athens, along a quiet country highway, an old school property was quietly purchased by a wealthy businessman.  The county had consolidated its schools a few years previously and replaced many structures with more modern and conveniently located facilities.  When the property was sold, many local residents were glad to see it placed on the tax rolls, as the area had seen a drain of people for years and the recent disruptions were hard on those industries in the vicinity.

John Ridgemont Porlis owned a housewares manufacturing business which had managed to withstand the trials of the previous few years.  His main office in nearby Parkersburg, WV, oversaw a network of small plants around the country, allowing his business to change products and keep ahead of even larger companies.  He knew several ARV victims and had tried to assist many in the area.  He became convinced that there was a solution that would allow many of them to continue to be useful in society, even if they physically were children.  He began by developing positions within his business that were filled by these ‘miniature adults’ as he sometimes described them.  Not everyone agreed with him, but his standing in the community overrode most objections.⁴

As he talked with others who were also advocates for the rights of the victims, he came to the idea that a self-guided, largely self-sustaining, community of victims could do much to help them function in society as full participants.  With this in mind, he began looking for a site to try his ideas.  The old school in the rural community of Arvin came to his attention.⁵  It was dated, but still serviceable, and stood on a considerable tract of land, giving it a good separation from other local residents, who were largely farmers.  The main building contained offices, a large media center, an auditorium, and around twenty-five spaces which were classroom-sized.  Its high ceilings, ranging from ten to twelve feet, were a throwback to early days, but left the rooms feeling spacious and bright.  A large gymnasium and sports complex were also on the property, along with a several buildings formerly used by the county schools as warehouses and maintenance facilities.  Its location, about 45 miles west of Parkersburg, meant it was convenient for supervisory purposes, but in an area where privacy was still possible.  It was also close enough for residents to access services in the area, even as far as Parkersburg.  It was also only about 80 miles to Columbus, Ohio, for even more services and activities.  Athens, with its well-known university, was just a half-hour drive, as well.

Porlis gathered a group of ARV-rights advocates and victims to set up a charitable foundation to oversee the project.  Someone in the group with a sense of humor--or irony--noted the community’s name and, jokingly, according to some sources, suggested that it was already appropriately titled, leading to the foundation and the building being called the ARV Inn, or ARVInn. 

The ARVInn Foundation set up its operations in the property and began to develop guidelines for how the structure would be used.  It was quickly decided that a residential atmosphere was best, with some elements of independent and assisted living facilities.  Consideration was also given to making it possible for the residents to be involved in actually running and maintaining the facility, since many victims were skilled in various business and trades.  A leading architectural firm, McKay & Hill, was given the task of designing the housing structures to be placed in the old classrooms and repurposing the other structures to help the program. ^{6, 7}

The resulting designs were so immediately popular and in demand that the concept quickly spread far beyond the Ohio Valley.  In the following years, over three hundred similar facilities, often with the same or similar names, sprang up all around the world.  They brought together those who were affected and those who wished to support them, to develop working communities where basic needs were taken care of and opportunities to have a useful occupation were created.  These facilities ranged in size from fewer than ten residents to some with as many as five hundred.  They were built in farmhouses and high-rise buildings and virtually any other layout that could be conceived.

Priorities were established at ARVInn which allowed residents needing support due to lack of family or community resources to be considered first.  Those who had useful backgrounds in office work, business management, finance, skilled trades and training were recruited, especially if they were on their own and did not mind relocating.  From the very beginning, the ideal was to become as self-supporting a community as possible, while offering assistance to those who had no support network of their own.  Those working within the facility would be housed at rates which reflected their contributions.  Others who wished to join were charged rents or condo fees reflecting their ability to pay.  Assistance was always given when needed.  Porlis and other backers pledged to support the effort as needed.  All in all, within its first half dozen years of operation, the ARVInn was successful even beyond the hopes of its founders. ⁸

Prepared 16 September 2110

¹ Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

² Photo by Marta Wave from Pexels

³ Public domain

⁴ pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3831569

⁵ Image: hayden auctions

⁶ Image: westgate

⁷ Created by macrovector on freepik

⁸ Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash