I spent five days along the shores of Lake Michigan at a writing retreat arranged with friend and novelist Jane Hoppe.  I focused on my August 2011 circling of Lake Superior to experience and explore the islands and coasts.  I fleshed out the chapter outline for my book and finalized the interview protocol for the interviews I will conduct during field research around the lakes.  Somehow the soulful depth of this journey has taken hold and I wonder how my life will now unfold.