How about becoming a gondolier on Mars? Even though this may seem absurd at first glance, this is the foundation of a classic of the iyashikei genre.
To give you a bit of context, I was pretty late reading Aqua, as I had already enjoyed its sequel Aria and Amano's newer work Amanchu, both as manga and anime. So I was definitely not a newcomer and knew what to expect.
Mizunashi Akari, the main character, is a young Japanese girl from the 24th century. She dreams of becoming an Undine. What is an Undine? A female gondolier working in New Venice on Aqua, a future version of Mars whose terraforming worked too well, covering most of the planet with a vast ocean. The reader discovers then this new world through the eyes of Akari from the first page when she arrives on Aqua.
Despite being rooted deeply in science fiction, this element is far from omnipresent and is actually anecdotal. New Venice has been built to truly look like the original “Serenissima” in its prime, leading to beautiful scenes each chapter, while Akari leisurely discovers the hidden marvels of the city with her mentor Alicia and her friend Aika.
Who should read Aqua then? Those who enjoyed Aria or any other work from Amano Kozue, such as Amanchu. Those who want to get a short introduction to Aria. Obviously, this manga may seem a bit rough compared to its sequel, but the atmosphere and the character design that Aria (and Amanchu) is known for are definitely there.
