Sweet escapes

Sometimes when I'm having a down day, I like to imagine myself in a different place, a different world. I can't even begin to describe how terribly I want to see Heaven, or how beautiful and perfect it will be. I'm not saying I have a death wish, but when the operations of this world seem impossibly tough and heart wrenching, it's reassuring to know that Earth isn't all there is, that the best is yet to come(hopefully, if God wills it to be).
I also contemplate about how cool it would be to live in some of the fictional, fantasy worlds created by author's such as Tolkien, Rowling, Stephen King (his non-creepy creations), or C.S. Lewis. How it would be in a world without advanced technology, weapons of mass destruction, vehicular transportation, etc. Living in a place such as Middle-earth, Narnia, Hogsmeade, or Gilead (as referenced in the Dark Tower), would be exciting to say the least! If you are not familiar with any of these places, here are some visual illustrations based on descriptions in the books....

Rivendell, an Elven Outpost in Middle-Earth (Tolkien)

Narnia, under the rule of the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)

Hogsmeade, a wizard settlement/shopping area, in the Harry Potter series (J.K. Rowling)

Keystone Tower in All-World, the Dark Tower Series (Stephen King)

Reading about these created worlds brings up the argument that these worlds could be based partly on Heaven-like concepts, especially 'utopia bubbles', such as Elfland in The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany, where time is suspended, and everything and everyone remains the same, never lacking youthful beauty and never aging. Death is unheard of, as well as conflict.
I would greatly recommend any of the aforementioned books, but it helps to be open-minded, and not over-analytical. Great characters and fantastic plot lines!