Making Love - the Ascetic Response

When I was a young man, I made love often, and to different women. A deep kiss, a caress, ecstasy.

Now I live as an ascetic. I pleasure myself, to be sure, but this is not the same as making love to a woman. Obviously so. But I do not miss a woman's presence. I gaze at the mountains, walk with my dog, write and do research, clean the house (damn it!), practise sports and try to stay in good physical shape. I eat a simple diet. And, of course, listen to and play music.

The life of the ascetic can be lonely, but it is not as bad as all that. The mountains are a happy barrier against the madding crowd, after all.