On occasion, I’ve contemplated the benefits of willful social isolation - or more vaguely put, a kind of voluntary interpersonal deprivation. In theory, it would allow for the refinement of certain skills, the completion of individual personal projects, and the further realization of a self discipline regimen. Just something I’ve been toying with.

The premise is a simple one: Voluntary social isolation for a long period of time. (A month? One year?) Kind of like prison, only voluntary. Or camping, only indoors. Hmm.

Anyways, as this concept has become personally alluring to me recently, I’ve begun to dip a toe into the cold water of trying this concept. …but, as it turns out, I don’t have to go through the trouble.

I’m going away for about four weeks, to the wet shores of Mount Vernon, WA for a short term job contract - designing print material for a publication company. If things work out ideally, I’ll be living alone in a warehouse doing nothing but working, reading, practicing the cello / piano, painting, etc. Most people don’t get to live that way until they retire!

Now, technically, it’s not exactly like the plan I had set out. I’ll be interacting with people at the office, and I’ll be grocery shopping periodically, etc. …but it’s a good starting out scenario to see if the idea is even feasible. Besides, I can already tell I’m going to miss my girlfriend and my cat quite terribly.

I’ll be leaving for Mt Vernon in the morning. Soon thereafter, I’ll be reacquainting myself with my old friends: concrete floors and ramen noodles.

I’ll be out of online contact. See you again in May!

ps:

I realize that the idea of voluntary social isolation sounds unrealistic, or selfish, or too menially demanding to endure, and I concede a bit to each potential drawback. However, there are a number of inspiring literary examples of social isolation (willful and otherwise) that ultimately result in a well conditioned protagonist:

Consider Edmond Dantès in “The Count of Monte Cristo”

Adam Webber from “Blast from the Past”.

There’s Forell in “As Far as my Feet will Carry Me”

Chris McCandless aka “Alexander Supertramp”

and also Robert Neville of “I Am Legend”

…oh right, and Chuck in “Castaway”