I crave isolation. I fall in love over and over again with the fantasy of seeing myself off alone living in a little cave near an ocean. I'd be sitting in front of a small fire right now, outside my little cave, counting stars. I'd spend afternoons swimming and exploring and just listening. Listening to the waves and the gulls. I'm a good listener. I'm much happier listening than talking. I often wonder how long I could really go without saying a single word. If I were living in my little cave I'd write stories and letters to all my imaginary friends and put them in bottles and throw them into the ocean. Maybe I'd make jewelry out of the stones and shells I found on the beach. I'd sit in front of my little fire and wonder if anyone had found them or if they were sitting in the stomach of an whale. Oh, if I could be anywhere in the world right now... There I could forget about television and cell phones and the internet. I could forget about driving cars and riding on trains. I could forget that nervous pinch that pops into my stomach whenever people are around me. I could be happy there.

If you don't see me, don't be surprised. If you call me and I don't answer, don't be surprised. I think it's time to disappear for a while... a long while.