There’s a freedom in knowing that not very many people read this blog.  Not that I don’t like having people read it, but I find that I’m more willing to write things that would usually only be in my journal, once I realized how few will read it.

I read Atlas Shrugged & Fountainhead by Ayn Rand when I was twenty.  I liked reading her works.  But I figured out rather quickly that her intriguing philosophy only worked for those who were without serious responsibilities – no children to raise or elderly parents to care for.  She wrote fiction.  It’s fascinating to read that her works are popular now because of her economic theories.  Hmmn, the Housing Bubble, Wall Street’s near collapse, the recession all the fault of unregulated capitalism and yet her super pro-capitalism is so admired by some on both sides of the political spectrum.  Odd. 

Finally, I have a new studio, not in the Southwest (my dream location), but a log cabin in West Virginia.  It will be my place to get away to and work.  It’s located in WV’s mountain lake region in the center of the state – a lovely area even in winter.  Of course, I’ll still have to deal with winter weather there and a six-hour drive from here.  But I expect the three other seasons will more than make-up for winter woes.

This will be a minimalist habitat for me – my airbed, some chairs, table and small dresser.  All else will be art equipment, which, of course will need the truck to transport.  The truck belonged to AJ and is stick shift, which I know how to drive.  But I can’t seem to actually drive it – truck too big and legs too short! 

I expect to drive down in early January with as much as I can squeeze into my car.  Which I discovered was quite a lot during my traveling years. 

So, hopefully my Thoreau like plans will inspire me to produce the work I’ve been longing to achieve.