When my sons were born, Aaron (the artist we are talking about in this thread) was just a teenager. Now that he is grown even if I got pregnant, I couldn't afford to commission him. He says that he can't even afford his own work. This is when I am trying to beg him for a painting, of course. Luckily, before he started making real money doing what he loves, he gave Shaggi and I both one or two paintings. I remember I made him paint me something for the "honour" of staying in my home for a night. Man, that guy was gullible. Good thing or we wouldn't have anything he's painted. Not only is his work gorgeous it really is how he earns his living. Art only. To me that is the "dream" ...to do what you love to do. He earns his living how I would love to. Not necessarily painting...but something other than slogging 5 days a week. I was thinking about this the other day. Since the industrial revolution, how we earn our living has changed so much. When I really think about it, most jobs don't have a whole lot of meaning. Couldn't we make our own coffee? Do we really need so many investment bankers? If we could all act like grown ups would we need lawyers? I am not saying that there isn't merit in these jobs...I am just saying that there are too many people running around working all day. Are we REALLY here to work? Is that our purpose? For 8 hrs a day 5 days a week? When there are so many lovely things to experience? My dream would be to live for the now. Doing what I love. For beauty. Or for sustanance. Or both. I am one of the lucky ones. My job actually means something. However, it IS a job. It's work. There are flashes of enjoyment...but because it is so mandated there is all this other stuff in the way. PAPERWORK. Blaaahhhh!!! The ultimate for me would be to grow my own produce. Raise my own animals. Have some sort of cottage industry going. And still be able to visit the city. Yes, it would be a ton of work, I know that, but I would really like to try it. I just wish that I would have that spark of inspiration that would allow me to take that thought and run. I know it's possible. I see it all around me. My very own brother for example. Wow, off topic, but I guess I really needed to say that. Thanks for the opportunity. Now I am going to post this on my blog so I don't lose it. It might be the "spark". Very many Blessings, Sparrow