My own most recent “extra life” was, as regular readers here know, the 18 days I spent in August as a New Yorker. I was apartment-sitting on the Upper West Side. For a year and a half, I’d had in mind the goal of enjoying a spell as a Manhattanite. It was a 60th birthday […] Read More

Maybe you build and repair your own cars and refrigerators and such, but not me. I like instant oatmeal. Processed foods. Processed plumbing. Things already done. But now and then in the case of my familiar trusty sits-with-me-all-day computer, I get the idea I can fix a problem myself. Now and then I can and […] Read More

I was just Friended by a writer in California I haven’t met, Nina Vida. (We have lots of friends in common.) I looked at her page and was inspired. It begins: “When I’m tempted to look at life as a series of successes and failures I remind myself that the journey is all.” Note: she […] Read More

Cherished careers don’t always stay on track from beginning to end – especially in wobbly economic times. This can be frightening and painful. A bonus life as a grocery bagger is not what anybody went to school to prepare for. A commencement speaker at Harvard Divinity School, Professor Kimberley C. Patton, thinks that in profound […] Read More

Friday, I dared to spare a few extra minutes. So often in the course of a work day, I could walk where I need to go, but drive instead to "save time." Today I walked to and from lunch at the Side Street Cafe. It's maybe nine blocks. Here's a little of what I would […] Read More

I made this announcement yesterday on Facebook and the responses have been so lovely and enthusiastic that I’m going to keep on posting the news everywhere. (Of course, I have other good reasons as well.) Here it is: My brother Harry Payne is running for the NC Court of Appeals, election day in November. His […] Read More

One of the ultimate bold acts, in my view, is to take an unblinking look at one’s finances. I’ve just read a book that has relieved me of that dread — and of the guilt and blame that come from discovering the precise results of one’s less good decisions. For getting rid of the fear, […] Read More

It’s almost a week now since I returned from my 18-day bonus extra life as a New Yorker. I’ve noticed a couple of significant after-effects of having tucked in this Plan B Life. 1. I feel very optimistic, as if almost any good thing is possible (and I’m capable of making it happen.) 2. I’ve […] Read More

[youtube tyWuPGSuaik nolink] I'd heard the name Kickstarter, but somehow the startling opportunity there didn't register until recently when my artist stepson Jay Dick brought a particular project to my attention. Kickstarter is a site/service that allows "artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers…" to raise money for their projects. People can pledge any amount […] Read More

Worked at home today. How is this bold? Well, it’s way too handy to take a nap, which I did do (I sometimes “close my eyes a minute” in my serious grownup office as well, but somehow that feels less risky.) Daytime naps are notorious for producing weird dreams and this one threw me into […] Read More