The other day at the bookstore, Lisa wanted to talk about the drones over New Jersey. I just looked at her blank-faced. I haven’t read or listened to the news since November 6th. She was disappointed she couldn’t speculate about flying saucers with me but I felt okay about it. I don’t intend to start paying attention anytime soon.

I read an article about something I’d forgotten about that might help in getting through the coming years in this country. The idea is to get myopic. To only concern yourself with friends, family, and work; as if nothing but what’s literally or figuratively gathered around your kitchen table matters.

A serious compartmentalizing effort is required. I’m at least a few steps ahead by not carrying around a smartphone. For me to engage with mass media is more of a conscious effort than for most people nowadays.

I spend more time than I should on the internet but the impulse to click on this or that news site isn’t very strong and gets weaker the longer I don’t do it. It’s like quitting any vice. It gets easier.

Is this making me stupider? More ignorant? I wasn’t that smart when I was reading the news every day all those years. Whether an article made me angry or happy or confirmed something I sensed or undermined a core belief, I can’t say whether cramming the information into my head was a positive or a negative.

Now I only watch, listen, and read things related to what I’m working on or that concern something or someone in my immediate sphere. I don’t know how long I can keep it going like this but I’m game to find out.

It’s a lot darker out there than it is in here.

I recorded a talk with novelist and former ghost writer, Avner Landes.