How much escapism is too much escapism?

This is a question I have had about myself for a long time. I think it applies to many of you as well.

Its no secret that TCers share many common interests beyond Tiki. It could be comic books, fantasy films, retro conventions, collectibles, fashion etc etc.

In my view (and I remind you its only MY view) I think that our desire for escapism often permeates much more of our lives than most people.

Some folks can find the necessary level of escape simply by reading a book in the evenings. Others can find it in a fantasy movie 3 or 4 times per year.

I find that many of the TCers I know find a need for it on a DAILY basis. Theme Parks visits at lunch, retro movies played in your crusty local theater on Tuesday nights, santa conventions, parades, bar after bar, dress up parties, EXTREME home decor and the list goes on .

I am not judging any of these activities as good or bad (I personally cant get enough).

But... I look at the people, I work with, live near, and my family. I find that they just dont seem to NEED it as much.

Going to your kids soccer game, taking karate lessons, attending a seminar on how to build your wealth, volunteering during your annual church carnival, playing golf with your business associates, decorating your home with sensible furniture and elegant colors etc etc (I know this is a random and ridiculous list but hopefully you understand what I am getting at).

I wonder if they are missing out because they dont seek out more fantasy or if I am the one with the problem because I am not content living the responsibilities of life unless there is more entertainment value.

Is it immaturity? Is it an attention span prob? I just wonder what void it is filling in our lives? I personally dont have any major tragedies in my life. No abuse, or alcoholism, heinous deaths or otherwise. My life has always been balanced, relatively happy and free from "real" problems.

Have any of you ever observed this in yourself and asked a similar question?

edited for spelling

[ Edited by: monkeyman 2005-12-12 12:36 ]

A great man is one who in adulthood retains the heart of a child. At least that's the excuse I use.

I've often thought about what you're asking. Personally, I have no spouse or children which, by necessity, DO take up a lot of time & concern. I collect Hawaiian/exotica music and am also involved with beauty pageants on a local & state level...two very escapist interests. For the life of me, I CAN NOT imagine how people function without some escapist pursuits on a regular basis...I'd blow my stack and feel that life has no meaning whatsoever.
I guess that's where this leads eventually..not to be too esoteric, but.....I guess we are searching for meaning in life and, as I don't particularly find ANY anywhere, really, I think it's pleasurable to fill our time with enjoyable pursuits that fill our minds with pleasant images. Perhaps other people find their meaning elsewhere (churches, community groups, family) and they don't need "filler." I need a lot of "filler" or it all seems rather pointless to even be here. The issue for me is always balancing hedonism with activities that will benefit others as well.

Paradise is a state of mind.

[ Edited by: Kaiwaza 2005-12-12 11:59 ]

We've simply been cursed with an imaginiation.

And, we like to play.

I really like your reply Kaiwaza. Sounds familiar...

For me it's not a compartmentalized part of my life, as "escapism" suggests. I guess maybe there are two kinds of escapism, "sociological" and "chronological." As far as functioning in society, I don't tie a necktie or associate with any people with whom I would feel a need to hide my tastes and interests in tiki and things that are (for me, at least) "tiki-like." There's really no problem there and nothing to escape from in my opinion. However, I do like to cultivate environments in my home that obscure, sometimes obsessively, high (contemporary) technology. I just don't like the aesthetic of it -- it looks cold and suggests "work" even if it is consumer tech. (Translation: it isn't tiki!) So, I like the idea of "hiding" the audio components, for example, in an old-time stereo cabinet. TVs and PCs can reside in bamboo cover-up thingies until needed. Silly? Definitely. But for me, for whatever reason, tech. is "public" and cold. I want my home space to be both tiki and of an earlier, vaguely pre-hi-tech, time. In that ("chronological") way, I am escapist about it.

Tiki an escape from the world? I think it's the other way around. The world is an escape from tiki. It's important to be stubborn about these things. As Bogart said, "the problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."

Too much escapism? Hmm, guess that depends upon what it is one is escaping. An antidote to life's day-today struggle is fine, an excuse to avoid responsibility...not so cool. Uh oh, kettle's on the phone for me, pot.

There's three kinds of people in this world:

Conformists, Activists, Escapists.

In the instant application I'd say many here are escapists manifesting that reality through the "Tiki" genre. Nonetheless, certain times one may play an activist role in the hope that more establishments could fulfill a preconceived notion of true "Tiki". In that regard, one would be a conformist.

In my own case, I am definitely [n]not[/b] an escapist. I am on parole for 2 more years. I did my time, square. The man ain't keeping down again.

midnite

You're only young once, but immature's forever!

Everyone needs passion. Without one you have nothing.

On 2005-12-12 11:15, Monkeyman wrote:
Its no secret that TCers share many common interests beyond Tiki. It could be comic books, fantasy films, retro conventions, collectibles, fashion etc etc.

I apologize for any generalizations here, but it seems that there are two distinct kinds of Tiki aficionados. The first are creative and artistic folks. Shag is one of the better known persons of this group, but there are some really talented people on Tiki Central. These people enjoy Tiki for the aesthetic appeal.

The other group (myself included) seems to be more into the nostalgia. Somewhere in their past, Tiki was a part of their lives. Their enthusiasm seems rooted in trying to recapture that long gone time. But for both groups, Tiki is certainly an outlet for escapism.

I wonder if they are missing out because they dont seek out more fantasy or if I am the one with the problem because I am not content living the responsibilities of life unless there is more entertainment value.

Is it immaturity? Is it an attention span prob?

People are not created equal, and that certainly applies to their level and need for imagination. IMHO, most people's imagination is limited to their own needs. Artists, composers, and authors are able to channel that imagination onto paper/canvas... or into Tikis!

We often hear about the reasons for failed marriages... infidelity, irreconcilable differences, etc. How much of this is caused by imagination incompatibility? One person may be able to direct that imagination into a romantic evening or something else :wink:, while their spouse is an imaginative dullard who only wants to watch TV. There is nothing immature or wrong with needing escapism. It's just too bad not everybody needs it.

Sorry, I shouldn't say anything. But stay Aloha!

[ Edited by: revbambooben 2005-12-12 21:11 ]

On 2005-12-12 20:43, RevBambooBen wrote:

Sorry, I shouldn't say anything. But stay Aloha!

... tiki porno may be considered escapism by some, though not by others... something that needs more research...

i don't have time for escapism, i'm too busy eradicating the universe of venutian photon hellhounds from the back of my armored battle laser moth.

Very interesting question you pose. I oftentimes wonder this myself. I am currently working on redecorating my apartment, and while people who come over really seem to love it, I can tell that many seem to think its a bit strange and extreme as well. In a fun way, but in a "weird" way.

I will allow everyone a tiny glimpse into my past and my personal life: Once a year, I really got to be a kid and have a great time! And have fun! It was every July, on our family vacation. We would find really great vintage motels to stay in, filled with furniture and decor that hadn't been renovated since the 1950s. We would hunt down ice cream stands along the road, housed in buildings that looked like actual ice cream cones! And would always pull over to see ridiculous and amazing roadside attractions. My father was (and still is) really into Easter Island, and dabbles in tiki. He doesnt know the name of this mug or that mug, but he will enjoy a great tiki drink at The Mai Kai with the best of them! And he has been to Easter Island, and has great stories to tell and photos and souveniers to show. So on these family vacations, he loved looking for the local tiki bar for us to dive into, and he would get me a virgin drink, with extra cherries in it. And a paper umbrella.

The point of my babbling is this: For me, I feel as if the quest for escapism that I seek, is a quest for reliving the summers of my childhood. The childhood that I only truly got to enjoy to the fullest every July of each year. Now, as an adult, I want to enjoy life to its fullest! So my home, my artwork, the things I love... they tend to remind me of this time in my life. This is why I love to collect these things. Photos and postcards of old vintage motels. I love rooms that LOOK like motels from inside... decorated like an old motel from the 50s. I love roadside attractions. Buildings that look like ice cream cones. Old diners that remind me of the ones we would stop into for lunch, to drink lemonade and iced tea from massively big mason jars. I love Wanda Jackson, because dad would play that on the radio as we drove along. I love to wear flowers in my hair, because on our family trips, mom would frequently tuck a flower into her hair and giggle a lot, watching dad and I race in the water while she would lay out to tan by the motel pool. Then we would splash her, and all burst out laughing, go in, shower, get dressed, and go out to another vintage diner for dinner. Another drive in movie. Another 1950s bowling alley. And even though it was the late seventies and early eighties, come July and our family summer vacations, it was always the 50s to me.

Anyhoo, I suspect we all have our own personal reasons for needing the escape. And why we are drawn to this as our own personal favorite means of it. I just unveiled mine. I dont know if its "right" or "wrong" of me to not be content with a furniture set from "Rooms To Go" or the like, all modern and matchy-matchy. I dont know if its really healthy or not that my walls have to be painted retro hues that remind me of the colors of old vintage beachside motels, and that my walls have tiki masks wearing fezzes all over them. Or that I cannot be content with a new flat-screen expensive fancy hang-on-the-wall tv like my "normal" neighbors have, because I like my old clunky one that I upolstered in zebra-print fabric. But it is what it is. And when I worried that it was a huge problem, that something might be WRONG with me... I told my therapist and she laughed. And then she told me about her lust for boomerang-themed furniture, and her collection of Elvis-on-velvet paintings. True story. lol! :wink:

[ Edited by: Tikilicious 2005-12-13 09:23 ]

Wow! Great topic! My view on this is we are all trying to be unique in a world of sameness. Some of us just try harder! I am one of those artistic types brought up earlier. My house is decorated with all handmade things. if I didn't make it, then someone I know did. (Tiki Mugs by Gecko!)

Maybe we have all realized life is short and you need to grab it by the horns and hang on for the fun ride!

I have a mind-numbing systems analyst job supporting hospital software, networks, telnet, FTP, SNMP, SMTP, LPR--ECHHHCH! Alot of you are in the same boat, I bet.

As soon as work's over, I'm ready for as much escapism as I can get. The South Seas, Poly-pop, fantasy, Tiki world is as good a representation of Paradise on Earth as any so that's what I go for. In my next life, I'll come back as Bamboo Ben but for now, I need escapism to forget work.

P.S. Thanks for the cool topic.

On 2005-12-13 09:03, pappythesailor wrote:

As soon as work's over, I'm ready for as much escapism as I can get. The South Seas, Poly-pop, fantasy, Tiki world is as good a representation of Paradise on Earth as any so that's what I go for. In my next life, I'll come back as Bamboo Ben but for now, I need escapism to forget work.

P.S. Thanks for the cool topic.

Today is my day off. Sort of. I'm going to go and hang out at a mall to try to blend into society! Wish me luck.

On 2005-12-13 08:18, WenikiTiki wrote:
Wow! Great topic! My view on this is we are all trying to be unique in a world of sameness. Some of us just try harder! I am one of those artistic types brought up earlier. My house is decorated with all handmade things. if I didn't make it, then someone I know did. (Tiki Mugs by Gecko!)

Maybe we have all realized life is short and you need to grab it by the horns and hang on for the fun ride!

I just had to say, I LOVE this reply! :) Sameness makes me yawn. And I oftentimes feel sorry for people who are afraid to be different, and live out loud! :) I say hooray for those of us, for whatever the reason may be, who are unafraid to live out loud! Huzzah! :D

On escaping sameness and an individuals threshold of sameness and childhoods influence etc...

Not that I relate EVERYTHING to secret agents, but have you ever watched "The Prisoner"? Try watching it from start to finish and see if you get it (many people can't). Plus it lends itself to a LOT of interpretation. I think it suits this topic perfectly.

I don't know if escapism is the proper term to use here. Someone who owns season tickets to a baseball team and watches ESPN every spare moment could be escaping from the regular world. Someone who goes fishing, or surfing, whenever they can could be considered escaping. For many people, work and family may represent real forces that resemble a prisoner's ball and chain that they need to escape, and most everyone does have some favored form of activity or entertainment to pursue when they do have some free time.

Escape implies freeing yourself, even if only for a few free moments, from those obligations you have. But there is an added element that is not as well described - what do you do once the shackles are free? Do you just grab whatever is within handy reach, or do you take a more daring and adventurous approach.

I think one common trait that many of us have is the willingness to take the initiative and the effort to search for interesting events. Tiki is not something that is going to generally just fall in your lap with no effort on your part. There will be people who are not aware of tiki, and they may be dragged by friends into some tiki bar, and they might enjoy the tiki drinks served to them, but there is no guarantee that they will be inspired by this event anymore than a trip to the Rainforest Cafe or some other themed restaurant that has antiques hanging from the wall. Many of these people will just return to their regular lives, and not make any effort to change their lifestyles.

But there are others of us, who will be intrigued by that evening in a tiki bar, or who have read an interesting article on tiki. The spark has been lit, and one starts down the path of learning more about tiki. For myself, I consider the world of tiki a reward that I obtained, by having a curious mind, by not being satisfied with the general status quo of provided entertainment, and looking for something more interesting that may exist beyond the horizon.

That world of curiosity does not stop with tiki - most of us continue to expand our awareness of the world, and travel towards other horizons which may bring different rewards. If you live in or near a large urban area, you will have an almost unlimited opportunity to experience new and interesting things. Usually this is a very positive thing, but it can have a down side, especially if you are so transitory with adding new experiences and new kicks that you never do figure out exactly what you like doing the best. For some reason, I recall the Cramps lyric "i'm lookin' and lookin' and lookin' for ..... something i ain't had before" ( it is a way better song than Rupert Holme's 'come with me and escape' Pina Colada song)

At various places, we might find an appropriate oasis that is so attractive, that we may decide to spend years there. A carver could spend a decade in his backyard, and always find wonder with the intricities of the wood patterns and his imagination. Someone could spend hours in the library researching past cultures, and then make a solitary, but very rewarding trip to the South Pacific to study firsthand a sliver of those cultures. One may discover deep friendships with like minded friends, and enjoy the ever-changing dynamics and trust that may build by meeting regularly at various tiki bars and events. Some people may even take a 360 degree circle, and come back to some mainstream activity, and rediscover the pleasures of watching the sky and the changing seasons from a fishing boat, or sitting on the front step watching the neighborhood and world go by.

Some escapes are just a form of activity that simply fill whatever time is not spent on their job. Other escapes are much more valuable, and full of deep meaning, and these are the ones that really sustain and reward us.

Vern

[ Edited by: Chip and Andy 2009-06-05 17:06 ]

I dont understand it. I used to live and breath guitars. I would feel sick if my band was'nt out playing somewhere. then comes tiki. I started carving and decorating, and now the guitars are sitting in the closet. what the hell is going on with me? guess I'll have some pie and think it over again.

I'll have some pie

Hallelujah! I said, hallelujah...

The world needs more pie. The only bad time for pie? When I gots to play my guitar and I don't wanna gunk up the strings. Otherwise, it's pie time. Yes, sir.

Carve on, and send me them geetars...

Aminor is the saddest key,
Nigel Midnite

I love this sort of topic too. I enjoy learning where this interest comes from in others and see the commonalities and differences with myself. In a way I almost wish there was a space for people to write an essay kind of analyzing how this interest developed, referring to childhood interests and experiences that relate to it and speculating, as if from a "third party perspective," on what it reveals about the person.

Hmm, that seems almost spooky when I write it that way, and it could lead to all sorts of navel-gazing I suppose. A series of self-referential essays? Um, maybe not...

Anyway, THE PRISONER, mentioned above, is indeed a fantastic old TV series. If you aren't familiar with it, I recommend googling it. It's just unreal. (And plays on BBC America, avail. on satellite.) Just when the scenarios and dialogue get completely bizarre, that big bubble bursts out of the sea and starts interfering with things. Too much!

I am definately one for choosing the road less traveled, and like Vern states have never been satisfied with accepting the general status quo. One thing that I have found in exploring the world around me is that no matter how much the world shrinks each day with air travel shuttling people from country to country and newspapers and television networks spanning the world... no amount of mass marketing, mass travel,or mass communications will be able to globalize the feelings you get when you experience a place and time first hand. It is an important lesson that I have learned about life. To live it, you have to be in it. I also see the world of tiki as a huge reward for looking beyond what you can see in a first glance, and pausing to imagine what is beyond it. It is always the realm of possibilities that intrigue me. Long live Tiki.....

Kim

Vern I enjoyed your thoughts a lot, especially these words:
**
not being satisfied with the general status quo of provided entertainment
**
"Provided entertainment" -- so well put. I have a friend whose passivity (as I see it) amazes me. "Film" means the latest new releases available at Blockbuster. "Sport" means the big-time pro sport currently in season. "Music" means ... well, you get the point. All these things are fine, but they are pushed on us. We are encouraged to be "chronocentric" (cue applause for use of impressive word...) because, hey, the entertainment industries have to move that new product, right?

Something I notice, and like very much, and share, with the folks here (though I've met none in person), is a rejection of this disposable, chronocentric, passive-consumer ethos.

In other words, not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but we're better than those other people! (Just kidding.)

I say we all keep goofin' off till we are too old to grow up.

Chongolio

Tikilicious, for some reason I missed your post (on p. 1 of this thread) until now. I really enjoyed and appreciated it. It's what I had in mind when I thought out loud about folks writing such revealing and introspective stuff, a few posts ago -- little did I know that someone had already done it, and so nicely.

[ Edited by: Thomas 2005-12-13 22:58 ]

Keep in mind, the same forms of escapism that many of us enjoy now were actually much more mainstream 40-50 years ago, but I think were broadly considered escapism back then too. I would be thrilled if there were as many options today for the flavors of escapism that I like, as there were back then. And that was a direct consequence of the greater popularity at the time. Remember, it started as Polynesian Pop, not Polynesian Underground!

Same goes for the googie and modern styles born out of the optimistic futurism of the time. It was a form of escapism to imagine a dynamic and exciting future made possible by technological and scientific advances, and this drove an esthetic that became visible in many layers of regular life (in some regions more than others). I agree with some of the earlier posts in that I don't understand why the current mainstream preference seems to be for either dystopian futures or contemporary blandness, and it tends to make one feel like an outsider. It's weird though, because there's direct historical evidence that the "mainstream" can have good taste, so what's wrong with people nowadays?

Another angle on this ties back to the subject question - how much is too much. Way back in high school, there was an LP that I bought and listened to so much, that I played it literally to death - meaning I got sick of it. I'd say that's when it's too much - when it's no longer a fresh experience. For me, excessive familiarity tends to extinguish the flame of intrigue and imagination that goes with any experience, escapist or otherwise.

I've often suspected that this is an element of "what's wrong with the mainstream" today. What started as the esthetics of popular escapist fancy became familiar and dated over time, to the degree that many people would look at a soaring A-frame that once seemed exotic and even optimistic, but would only see something out of step with the times. This is understandable - sometimes it's hard to appreciate something's intrinsic beauty when there's so much other context that we all routinely incorporate into our judgment - but the good news is that there are a lot of creative remedies to get around this.

-Randy

Too much escapism is the guy on the episode of "Yes Dear" who hangs out in his storage space crammed full of action figures that his wife won't let him keep at home, playing video games while dressed as Chewbacca or a Storm Trooper.

Having lost a lot of stuff, I've done a lot of thinking about how people get their identity all wrapped up in their stuff. I've thought about how I may not be able to identify with people here because I don't have much cool vintage stuff anymore, and honestly, I don't know how keen I am to replace or collect more because I don't want to have to go through losing it again. I still like all that stuff but seeing 30-60 year old things that either I'd had since they were new or rescued from being junked ruined literally in minutes was just too hard, and perhaps I need to detach a bit. And anyway, I've never been such a rabid collector that I needed to possess any particular item at any cost. Maybe that's when it's too much?

I prefer the term "Preservationist" rather than "Escapist". I don't necessarily want to escape to the past, but I like having tangible reminders of it because I like the way those things look. I liked still having books and toys from my childhood, but I didn't really have a happy childhood and wouldn't wish to relive it. I feel the same about articles of Polynesian Pop culture. They aren't so much an avenue of escape to a happier time, just things I had or knew then that I liked, and still do. I had a great time in the 80s but the signs of big 80s hair and shoulders coming back are making me cringe. And while Spaghettios definitely put me in mind of my childhood, I really can't stomach them now.

Something that makes me very sad driving around N.O. now is that if entire neighborhoods are bulldosed and rebuilt new, all the visible reminders of the past will be gone and may turn into those scary Stepford subdivisions where every house has to be built out of the same materials and color schemes and you'd expect to see a big paper banner around them saying "sanitized for your protection". I liked the eclectic patchwork of houses in Lakeview, ranging from the early 40s like mine to the late 60s.
Ah well, it wouldn't be the first time. Some of those 60s houses back then were considered "little boxes made of ticky-tacky".

I digressed a bit...

Interesting observations in this topic. I find that there are things I can't appreciate in current society so by surrounding myself with objects of the past that are aesthetically more pleasing to me, wearing vintage clothes that I think are superior to what I could buy new, and by seeking out timeless places, I can partially escape the modern world.

Perhaps it's also good for our egos, to feel that were a little different than the average person. Is there anything really wrong with that? I think not, as long as we aren't jerks about it.

There are real benefits to living with fewer possessions, perhaps the beats had the right idea. Read a book, then pass it on. The same goes for music: with iPods and the like, who needs to keep stacks of CDs and records? Sometimes I wish I wasn't such a collector.

Complex conversations of yesteryear...

Once
Many Years ago
i drank 8 oz of Robitussen DM
and chased it with a joint and coffee
Way TOO much Escapism that evening....

Many years = code for "last night" :wink:

Last night was a school night
ie:work...
believe me...you don't wanna ROBO at least 20 hours before a working day...

I loved this topic when it first appeared. Anyone have any thoughts today? As my levels of responsibility in life grow my time for escapism lessens. This is more about enjoying the time you have without trying to escape from it.
As far as creating a place that captures escapism, where people can lose themselves in an evening thinking they're someplace different, that is the never-ending project. At least for me.

On 2009-11-04 16:09, little lost tiki wrote:
Last night was a school night
ie:work...
believe me...you don't wanna ROBO at least 20 hours before a working day...

Or more.... I couldn't believe how far away my feet were when I finally woke up.

And I am not sure escapism has an upper limit.... or at least not until the nice doctors in the white coats who put the sparks in your head when your bad give it the name of some kind of syndrome or itus.

Myself, I find the past entertaining as prelude to now and try to imagine tomorrow by the same scale. It doesn't always work because I still don't have my flying car or personal helicopter landing pad on my roof at home which is supposed to be kept tidy by my robot butler.

And to the question of why do we, or why don't they, it all comes down to imagination. I find it amazing how many people don't have any. They are usually the ones who seem quite content in the here and now, the ones who go to the soccer games and sit happily through the latest crap-tacular blockbuster movie by Michael Bay. The ones without imagination are the ones we call Lowest Common Denominator.

I miss and heart PJ. :)

I find this topic very intriguing and ringing true to my own life. At work today, I laughed to myself in a meeting when I noticed everyone else taking notes in a very linear fashion...line after line. I looked down at my page and I've got stuff scribbled here, there, around the side, etc. No apparent rhyme or reason (least to others I guess) why I would be taking notes in that fashion. Ironically, I also had a tiki statue doodled on the side.

This also makes me think of how I sometimes get frustrated with others (wife, co-workers, neighbors, etc.) and wonder how they can enjoy life without enjoying the little things. I can close my eyes at any moment and feel the wind blowing through my hair as I look out over the ocean in a distant memory. I find myself fascinated by how the leaves change colors, the constellations sparkle, the sun rises, etc. - and wonder why others aren't as captivated by this sight as I am.

To further illustrate how this has been a longtime view for me, I look back to my senior paper in high school. It was to be one of those papers that would make all other papers easier to write in comparison. It was long, demanded a lot of research, included in depth footnotes, etc. I did my paper on Jean-Jacques Rousseau. I was fascinated with his praise of nature and his belief in the innocence of the natural man - the savage. Now obviously, in hindsight, we can say that his view was naive - as well as a host of other things. But, how much of what he said on this topic rings true with our view of the ancient islanders on Rapa Nui or some other South Pacific island? Do we look to those fearsome savages and see some kind of freedom that we lack in our modern age?

In closing, I'm not sure if it is something different within, or something I learned by how I was raised - but, I sure as heck am glad that I have been blessed with it and that I have found this hobby/passion that further helps to develop it.

Now set me up with a shot of the Robitussin. Mahalo!

[ Edited by: LoungeShark 2009-11-05 23:08 ]

My immediate answer is "there's never too much!"

But if there ever was too much it would be in the form of a drug or alcohol addiction, then you know you've gone too far.

Hey Monkeyman.Just found this post and i must say, what a great question.There has been some awesome replies to this question and everyones belief is valid.
The way i see it is, we are the only species to understand the concept of death(as far as we know),so therefore life is futile,because we understand that all living things will eventually die.
Unless you are religious,(which i am not,i'm an agnostic), and believe that this life is just a means to an end, life is something to make the most of and enjoy whilst you can.If that means immersing yourself into tiki culture,or music, or art, or whatever it is that allows you to escape the monotony of the lives we lead,then do whatever it is that makes you happy.You can never have too much escapism.
Just remember,"You are the only thing in any room you're ever in"(Elbow).

"Flying car"?! Little did we know growing up that when nearly everyone would have a Flying Car it would be a little machine sitting on our table top that takes us anywhere we want to go around the globe. This computer, connected to the internet, IS our flying car. And it's more amazing than anything George Jetson could dream of. His glass domed vehicle took time to putter around a few floating buildings. We cover the solar system instantly! Hello Australia! Hello Spain! Let's escape for a few moments and talk about our tiki collections!

Too much, is, almost enough.

LoungeShark I liked your post. Reminded me of "Papillon" and a John Muir quote, "Salvation can be found by immersion in the natural world"

1000+ micrograms :wink:

Nuf' said.

lemme guess....
Are we all that one kid in class that got in trouble for "acting out"?
I was, and I still am... I just got better at it, and created the perfect environment to do it in!

Hmmm.... You know I actually pray to my Tikis. When I can afford it I sacrifice small animals to them. (I have to be careful, the pet shop lady is becoming suspicious). Do you think maybe this is taking Tiki escapism too far? Please tell me this is OK.