It's only briefly refreshing to talk about real things with them as they can't speak deeply about much at all.

I'd been withdrawn for years, and now my presence is admittedly overwhelming to some. They like their drinking. I'm trying to motivate them to participate more in actually doing more things. I've got plans for building to mobile gardens on wheels for the community, making a large outdoor chessboard table for the community, composting, an indoor garden this winter and maybe year-round, grow a bunch of pot plants, and making our own beer and wine - in order from top to least priority.

Community used to be something more as a kid. Since then we've all retracted into our little lives with nothing more in common than the shows we watched, and now with infinite options instead of 4 channels we don't even have that.

I preferred the artist community in Oakland, younger, diverse, clever, much more active, sexier, and progressive. But these guys are okay. Instead of just cat herding, I'm herding all old cats now.