I love doing anything that sounds adventurous as long as its not too dangerous.

However a safer bet is vicarious experience, so I do a lot of reading.

I love reading/researching anything to do with

Ancient History & Mythology.

Have always had this feeling that I was born in the wrong era. I know for certain that I am the reincarnation of some famous royal despot. My family now just call me bossy .
Seriously though I think that the theory of evolving lives has some validity; After all I have reinvented myself so many times in this life time, that it's sure to just keep on rolling.
The history of ideas really interest me; especially theories around the mind and consciousness eg
Philosophy Psychology Mysticism,
Metaphysic​s Alchemy Tantra Kabbalah Shamanism zen etc
I have had real actual training & initiation in some of these areas, not just reading ancient tomes.

Although bookish, I am not a a dry intellectual. I need a balance of head, heart & hands.( Brownie points if you know the source of this reference)
I have endeavored to experience life to its fullest but have eased off somewhat of late, as in; I now stop to breathe.
Have learned various forms of meditation for many years but find the basic 'watching the breath' the most efficacious.

One can often find me musing, thinking, contemplating, exploring the absurdity of life & it's possible meaning/s,
so many options! LOL

I would liken myself to a spiritual anarchist; with Zen being the only school of thought that doesn't cause mental claustrophobia.

Politically I'm a free floating radical.

I have a long time interest inpermaculture organic gardening & specifically biodynamics especially in relation to arid lands - as I live in the middle of one.

I some times think I would have been very happy living the life of a farmer, & especially a grape grower/wine maker.
( Tuscany being one of my longed for retirement destinations)
I am attracted to the dark ages & [medieval] times:- clothes, music, architecture, troubadours, poetry, stories especially the Grail Legends.

I think it would be fun to be part of a SCA but there isn't one around here and I'm not that obsessed to set one up.

I adore Celtic Music it makes my spine tingle. I play recorder & penny whistle, albeit amateur level. Would love to play the bodhran but haven't quite got around to it yet, but I will.

I have had a very checkered NON career that has included in no particular order :- glassmaker, potter, jeweller, a very uncivil servant, waitress, masseuse, factory worker, primary teacher, adult educator, designer /maker/owner of a lingerie business, manager of health food shop, house cleaner, teacher of macrobiotic cooking, P.A., sign painter, barmaid, dressmaker, doll & toymaker, mother, cook and bottle washer, et al.
Obviously all good material for The Book, which I have yet to write.

Haven't yet been paid as a pole dancer/ stripper ; that's strictly for personal and private entertainment.

Trying to make sense of a crazy world.

Writing poetry. Singing in an acappella group.

Have taken up archery and have the bruises on my forearm to prove it. Must re-read Zen & the art of Archery !

Trying to become really good at Go

connecting with kindred spirits across the world.

Playing with young children and generally being silly.

I'm sure they will say my brilliant radiant aura and my awe inspiring charisma. hmmm!

A Books = Soul Food. Couldn't live with out a pile of books by my bed.

I'm working my way through what is considered the Classic Western Cannon; and yes I know that is not politically correct but I don't hold with post modern deconstructionist theory anyway.

Lets do a random of some stand out's:

Alan Watts - my adolescent introduction to eastern thinking and aren't we so lucky to have his talks and lectures available on the net .

If I was into gurus, but I'm not, it would have to be - Joseph Campbell, when I started reading his books; I felt so grateful that he had been alive and was writing and sharing his insights.

Tao Te Ching - when ever I think I'm losing the plot this is my touchstone for sanity.

Harold and his Purple crayon. Such simple brilliance.

Laurens van de Post. This writer changed my prejudices against the kind of person who enlisted in the British Army.

The Education of Little Tree. Every American should read this book to glean some understanding of the First Nations people.

Chogyam Trumpa Rinpoche - This guy will make you chuckle your way to enlightenment.

Tom Robbins, Tom Wolfe, Thomas Pynchon,- All good fun.

Umberto Eco brilliant brilliant brilliant .

Rosemary Sutcliffe AS Byatt, Angela Carter, Doris Lessing, Ursula le Guinn, C.S.Lewis All great storytellers.

Carlos Casteneda - I blame him for all my youthful folly.

Robert Heinlein especially -Time Enough for Love - amazing how he makes taboo like incest seem so natural, almost a necessity.

Mervyn Peake The Gormanghast Trilogy- fueled my melancholic teenage gothic romanticism.

Peter Carey Australia's most wacky and creative writer.
Roald Dahl I love his black humour.

Get my drift?

Poetry
Read poetry to me in bed and I will agree to anything.

Dylan Thomas, Neruda, TS Elliot, Rumi, Basho, Yeats, Rilke, Seamus Heaney, Les Murray, The Beat poets.....
just read it to me babay.

Asterix Comics, Ambrose Beirce, Thurber & last but not least Ashliegh Brilliant - he's brilliant!

Current reading:
Collapse - Jared Diamond
Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf.

Travels with a Tangerine by Tim Mackintosh Smith - A journey in the footsteps of Islam's greatest traveller.

A is for ox (the development of language & writing)

In Praise of Idleness & other essays by Bertrand Russell.

B Films:

Most 50/60s European Art House Films, eg Fellini, Bergman, Kuwasowa etc Metropolis, Hiroshima Mon Amour, The Spirit of the Beehive etc.

Powasquatsi & Kyoanasquatsi.

All of Peter Greenaway movies,

I generally have absolutely no interest in american blockbuster macho action movies.
but i did like Blade Runner, Blazing Saddles,and any film with Jack Nicholson, especially 5 Easy Pieces.

Don't watch much tv but I could be persuaded if Dr.Who is showing at a convenient time.

C Music: Very wide & eclectic. Although most on my list is indicative of my age ; I do like a lot of new music by young emerging artist but I don't 'follow' them enough to know their names:
So old favourites:

Bach especially Yo Yo Ma playing Cello.

Beethoven's late quartets - I am continually surprised at the melancholic poignancy of these.

All of Mozart. I adore his Mass in C Minor.

Any Piano, Rachmaninov's, Paganinni variations.

Keith Jarrett, Churchez Valdes.
Kronos Quartet

Most the 60'70's music,
(youthful nostalgia!) esp Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Byrds, Ry Cooder, Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Band, Dr John,The Doors, Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa Jimi Hendrix yeah! etc etc.
Oh and I just love Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks!

English Irish folk /rock from the same era
The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, Planxty.
Traffic, Cream, Joe Cocker, David Bowie, Pink Floyd ( seen em all live in the 70's when I was at art school in UK)

Some stand outs : Cassandra Wilson, John & Alice Coltrane, Chic Corea & Gary Burton. Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Pat Metheney, Mark Knofler, Weather Report, Kronos Quartet, Penquin Cafe. and just lately been introduced to Jan Garbarek - love him

Tom Waits, Fiona Apple, Crash Test Dummies, Xavier Rudd......

Oh anything done really well, except possibly very average Country & Western. And last of all I'm not keen on Rap; but there again it's performance poetry not music.

D Food:

Mangoes mmmm

Fresh figs eaten straight from the tree. Mmmm

Chunky bitter orange marmalade on home made bread with 100% Arabica coffee.

Anything fresh, home grown, homemade or made by someone else.

Have hunted for, prepared & eaten: kangaroo, goanna
( lizard), honey ants, wichetty grubs (caterpillars), mud crabs, most shell fish, but couldn't bring myself to try mangrove worms!

Why hasn't OKC included favourite art?

Some of Mine

Da Vinci's drawings, Blake's watercolours, Turner, Vermeer, Courbet, Klimt, Klee, Kandinsky, Miro, Pollock.
Japanese woodblock prints, Navaho & Tibetan sand mandalas and contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art.

Very little post modern/contemporary. I think its mostly self indulgent artifice, masquerading as philosophy/social commentary. Some one convince me otherwise!

Well with the exception of the obvious (food & water )
I reckon I could cope without most things, but living in this climate has made me appreciate :

A Wide brim cotton sunhat. Don't like the sun on my face.

Sunblock: physical block with high zinc oxide.

Moisturiser: I do live in the desert and I'd shrivel up like a prune otherwise.

Polarized sunglasses for driving.

My swiss army knife,

And last
but not least

clean knickers.

The meaning of life and my role in it; well some of the time. Like how did an English woman with very fair skin, who doesn't really like hot weather, end up living in a desert.

How to build a pise( rammed earth) garden seat.

How to be a good parent. Might get the hang of it by the time I'm a grandparent.

Future projects: keeping bees, creations in paint /clay etc, running art therapy workshops, making weird & wonderful wearable art.

and

last
but
not
least

If it's not too late to launch career as a rock & roll singer, actress, pole dancer, stand up comedian etc?
(my alter ego having a last ditch stand here)

going out bush and sleeping out under the stars;

being sociable with friends and family

supporting local art, music,film, drama productions.

or just drinking a bloody good wine & imagining fantastic future scenarios.

saxophone music makes me feel randy.

You would like to discuss the meaning of life or anything just plain daft.
(that means silly for non Brits)