It's nice and everything, here on the east coast of nowhere, with nothing between us and South America(Ok, maybe Rapa Nui way on down in the Easter Islands), but I do wonder what it's like to be in a big, busy place.

For me, the nearest big city is Auckland, something like 4 1/2 hours away by bus. I know that's a piddling little place with like a million people, but it's the best we can manage, all the way out here in the South Pacific.

I have read that cities like London and New York have somewhere around 20 million people living in the same place - how on earth is that even possible?

I dunno about you, but if I go to a beach and see someone else's footprints I feel kinda violated - this is MY beach at 6am.

It's so hard for me to put into words - my sense of aloneness has nothing to do with being alone - it's like the crisp morning air in your lungs as you head out just before daybreak on a walk which is filled with promises, but will inevitably lead you to peeing on a tree as you forgot to go before you left.

Ah, the ramblings of an old man... Where is my surfboard... actually, flag that... where is my weed, booze and that gal who is way too big for her bikini top...