Hermitage time – I went out into the world

I went out into the world this weekend,
greeting and cherishing lovely people
(and some banal strangers, truth to tell);
now I am exhausted by the exercise

and I greet and cherish the meadow birds and sunrise and ground fog and morning dogs with triple the delight, having been with the other kind of company.

I am more and more convinced that this life is mine, is best for me, is sweetest.
At least for now, I say to the naysayers. My chiropractor is one of these, so worried that I’m in quiet and peace and alone time.

Alone but not lonely, that was the goal months ago.

Now I know that, for me, the way past loneliness is to be alone.