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Yesterday we had dinner with our friend, Richard. We invited Andrew, as well, but he had to work. It’s more of that whole trying to socialize more. We went out to Blue Water Grill. It’s one of our favorite sea food restaurants in town. Dinner and conversation with good friends, what could be better?
Today, Sunday, we met our friends Sarah and Mark for lunch. We went to the Blue Owl in Kimmswick, Missouri. It’s a small tourist town where you have bed and breakfasts, antique shops, and just collectible shops. It’s a good place to get lunch, then stroll around and browse the shops and visit with friends. Again, trying to get out more. I find that when I visit with friends I tend to be more refreshed for work next day.
Once upon a time, I didn’t see much of my friends when I was working on a book. I’d immerse myself in my fictional world, then come up for air and my friends. But that only worked when the books were about half the size they are now, and I was only doing one series. I’ve finally realized if I wait until I am not writing a book to see my friends, I will never see them. I’m always working. I’m not sure that’s good for me, actually. Probably isn’t.
So, the compromise so far, is to try and take weekends, or at least a day a week off, to do other things besides work, while still trying to keep to the schedule. We’ll see how it goes. I know that when I finish this Anita book that I am going to have to take a trip. A few days away, because if I stay home I get sucked back into work. The next book; the next thing. Away, it’s harder to work. Sometimes I think I’m addicted to work. The only way to stop is to take temptation away. But, of course, my work only requires a way to write and a surface to do it on. So hard to avoid temptation completely. But we’ll see how it goes. I know one thing, I need a better balance between work and play. I’m working on it.