I love to write. I also love to play guitar. Neither pays my bills (I make a little money from both, but I don’t count on it.) I think it is better that way. Because they are not my “jobs,” I can enjoy them without the pressure of earning a living from them.

My job for the past 12 years is teaching guitar. Which is nothing at all like playing guitar for pleasure. Sort of like writing a technical book or software manual would be nothing like writing a novel to a novelist.

Teaching guitar is work. I wouldn’t do it for free. Some of it is enjoyable, but it is not something I love to do. Still, it allows me to do the things I do love, like write and play guitar.

Work is work, pleasure is pleasure. I think it is a pretty good strategy.

Both are real life.