August 20, 2013

ISIQ-0230

“A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” – Benjamin Franklin

I have this great friend. We met because I photographed his wedding – I’ve mentioned him in these ramblings before. We catch up for a coffee, a chat, or – like today – a walk about every month or so. We discuss each other’s work, families, businesses, lives. But more than that, we discuss broad ideas about art, work, technology and society. We talk about building a lifestyle , and about what it means to be controlling a media company from our smartphones.

Today’s walk covered more or less all of these topics, in no particular order. It was, as always, a highlight of my month, and something I cherish dearly. Partly because it forces us both to get out of the office and connect, when our businesses make it so easy to retract inward and stare at a screen most of the day. But mostly because we’re so alike in so many ways – in itself very reassuring – and because our conversations are always deep, interesting, and in many ways challenging.

I don’t think it’s self-aggrandising to say we both teach each other a lot, every time we catch up. Today I learned many things, not least of which was how much of a starring role sweet-chilli sauce plays in the best veggie burger I’ve ever eaten in my life. (Coogee Bite Café. About $15 bucks, with chips and ketchup. UH-MAY-ZING.)

Today’s IQ is a photo of my home. Not my residence – the four walls and a roof I live under – but my home. Coogee Beach.

I used to swim at this beach when I studied at the University just over the hill. I got married on this beach – literally on this beach. I’ve had photographs with my wife and both of her pregnant bumps, and subsequently, both of my kids, at this beach. I have run beside this beach countless times, from marathon training, to a quiet, mind-clearing jog on a random weekday morning. I’ve had many swims, bodysurfs, picnics, birthdays, drinks, laughs, tears, and smiles at, around, on, in, and near this beach.

Today, I walked around it, ate lunch looking at it, and discussed the beauty of it, with my mate. The area doesn’t just contain my house, it feels like my home.

Ben Franklin’s quote is a perfect summary of today. Today’s catchup with Renai was food and fire for my mind as well as my body. That it was at Coogee made it even better.

(It sounds like I have the biggest man-crush in history on this guy. But that’s not entirely true. That … title? award? … probably goes to Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. But Renai is definitely in the top five.)

Where do you make your home? What food and fire do you bring to your mind as well as your body?

With love,
Israel. xo

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