As far as I have been able to understand, the Japanese seem to keep things close to the vest. Friendly but remote and polite to the point of being invisible. It is in the music, literature, film and art that the Japanese really seem to express themselves.

To justify being listened to, I try to be as well informed as I can. Hence, the travel. Reading is good too. Reading gets you part way there, and I do read pretty voraciously for a guy who's trying to write so much.

With age, life becomes complex and difficult, often fraught with risk on several levels, from the practical to the fiscal.

Humans are pretty amazing at living pretty much anywhere and so that makes me optimistic that perhaps humanity will be able to survive itself, because the reality is that we are going to have problems with water in this century.

Break from self rejection, try some introspection.

As far as what people think of me, maybe my stuff should just be put online for free downloads when I'm gone.

I just write what I think is good and keep it at a thousand words.