“Weirdos” of the world unite! I am completely like you (well, the gay, male version, anyway!) I actually laughed out loud several times during your article because I could imagine your thinly veiled expressions of abject horror at each proposal! We are not weird at all; what happens is, we have, due to whatever life-reasons, incrementally realized how valuable “time” is, and how insidiously that time is claimed by other people wanting to conform to societal expectations. For example, at the age of 44, I am still voluntarily “single” from a life-partner; and recently decided to trade in the security of decent paying, yet mind-numbing jobs to pursue my passion for writing until it pays my bills, which means I am, for the moment, as POOR as I have ever been; a fact I know will soon change as I hone my craft with every passing day, readying myself for my first of many forthcoming books… yet I have never been happier. I mean this with all my being. Acquaintances and family members are baffled by my life choices (but my friends understand), but I have never been so clear. Also, I spent too many years of my life living other people’s dreams and bucket lists, and now proclaim myself solely self-invested, so yes: I wholly understand you, and you are not weird, you are wondrous (and you have also earned a new, avid fan of your writing!)

Yours, much love,

P.