In the not too distant future, there will be a variety of ways to describe this phrase. Some possible synonyms include the near future, upcoming years, soon to come, approaching time, or forthcoming era. Depending on context, one might also use phrases like "in the coming months," "on the horizon," or "in the pipeline." For a more specific timeframe, one could use phrases like "within the next five years" or "by the end of the decade." Regardless of the phrasing, when discussing the future, it's important to be mindful that things may not always go according to plan, and flexibility is essential.