Castle on the Hill

​I've found that my dreams of escaping to a secluded cabin have intensified with each passing day. Once only whispers at reasonable parts of the day or a melancholy fantasy shared among friends over a bottle of bourbon, the lure of the silent living hugs me tighter with the rising of every new sun.

The once ever-changing picture has become less obscure and highly consistent. The house is among trees, which begin springing up about 100-feet in each direction away from the cabin. The sunlight beams down and illuminates the open circumference only for the few hours each day where it has reached its highest point—gold and green radiate, which is only broken by the cool shade offered by the canopy.

I don't see a trail or road leading to the house, so I am forced to believe that I will arrive on foot. Just through the woods is a river that runs noiselessly. This is where I do my fishing, cleaning, cooking, and perhaps even bathing. And while the fish aren't plentiful, it is easy for an excellent fisher to sustain himself with the appropriate skills.

The chickens, dog, and cat travel with me to this open territory, each with its purpose. The chickens for the eggs, the cat for the rodents, and the dog for general companionship, inspiration, and amusement. I suppose a couple of dwarf goats are there to milk and contribute to the beautiful sound of freedom. Fresh greens spring from the small garden beds around and inside the house- the vegetables blooming according to their growing season. Except for a monthly supply run or drop-off, there is no need to go beyond this carefully constructed haven. 

And my days are filled with writing and living. The stories and words haven't been explicit yet. Perhaps I'll write my autobiography, my most incredible collection of short stories, letters to the world, or everything. Or, might I write things that are only for me. And when my one year is up, I silently pack my things, animals, and writings and come back to civilization, offering only a smile and a calm understanding of a world and life that has been lived most greatly and uniquely.