is this work?

A vast amount of unstructured time is a scary thing. Worried we might let it all slip by, we initially decided to keep a strict schedule for our work. But then we realized that one of the most exciting things about this trip, for both of us, is the ability to work whenever we're feeling inspired: to actually get up when you get an idea in the middle of the night and spend time pursuing it, rather than lying in bed trying to fall back asleep because you have to wake up at seven. That's a frustrating feeling, as anyone with a job and a creative persuasion and a dash of insomnia knows well. So we settled on a compromise: we can work whenever we want, as long as we log at least 5 hours, but preferably 8+, per day.

So far I think it's going well, although we're closer to the 5 mark most days than the 8. And really, it's kind of funny that we're thinking of this as work. It's not ringtones; it's not market research. What will happen soon, I'm sure, is that it will start being fun, and then we won't have to count our hours at all.

Meanwhile, the other hours in the day are pretty ruling. Our John Hughes marathon last night sent me on an ill-advised path of writing a Ducky/Anthony Michael Hall type character into my novel (abandoned that quickly, don't worry -- I'm so suggestive these days!). Dan's learned his way around Hope well enough to develop his own preferences in stores (he prefers COOPERS, ahem) and a fair obsession with Rambo sights. Still have lots of stuff to show him, but we're saving the touristy stuff for our rumored visitors... Heather? Anyone? Bueller?