“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West People who look at my life often find it odd. I work from home, but I prefer to do things at home. I love having people over to hang out, as it gives me a chance to cook and entertain. I love watching TV with my family, or playing board games at night. Between my day job and my writing career, I spend many hours at home. Yet a friend of mine found that unusual. They work from home, and if they don't get out of the house, they feel stifled. After they made that comment, I got to thinking about my life, habits, and preferences. I am, by nature, a creature of habit. I like to have things "just so", and I need order in life. If I'm going to leave the house, I'll do so for a reason--to go out with friends, to grab a drink, hit the cinema, pick up the kids, go to the gym, etc. But I'm not the kind of person that will leave the house "just to get out". On closer examination, I understand WHY I prefer to be at home: most of the things that interest me are at home. I can spend hours sitting at my desk writing. If I'm not writing, I'm often thinking, researching, or talking about the stories I'm working on. My writing takes up a large amount of my brain "real estate". Watching TV with my family, cooking a nice meal, and just generally relaxing all take place at home. Home is where my "happiness" is. To some people, it may seem unusual, but to me, it's what I like. I don't think I'm wasting my time or youth at home, but I feel like I'm getting a lot done. I've never been happier with my life, and I'm feeling good about all the challenges I'm dealing with. If you enjoy something, do it! Live your life "right", and it will be enough. Don't let people tell you what you enjoy is odd or wrong, but do what you want to do. If it makes you happy and you feel content with your life, it's worth it.