Linda Stout

Yippee. I am going on retreat Monday at Light on the Hill near Van Etten, NY, about 40 min. south of Ithaca. I am going to sleep, eat, walk around and write and play guitar and baritone uke. No electricity, but heat. So no computer (I am too addicted to it, anyway). I am not imposing anything on this. For instance, some people won't read while on retreat, so they can get out of their heads. No shower, except in another part of the center. I can get as fragrant as I want. The retreat hut I'll be in is on the "lip of a pond." I don't think I'll go swimming this time of year. Too bad. I love pond swimming. I was inspired by two women songwriters, well 3, I know or met at myspace.com, who said they were doing the hermit thing and writing. I have long thought about going off alone to the woods... I used to go to my parents' cabin, but decided not to this time; someone else owns it now, and I'm invited but not sure if I want to only focus on cooking and having a relationship with the wood stove and plumbing. That could be nice another time.