Jason Jack Miller’s Thirty (One) Essentials (With no apologies to Jack Kerouac.)

Find your soul mate. Marry her.

Life is rated in miles traveled rather than dollars earned.

Never be afraid to call off work.

Rob from Peter to pay Paul always. Especially when food or travel is involved.

You can never have too many guitars.

Never apologize for liking what you like.

Have a favorite hiking trail. And a second, and a third, and so on.

Summer chores (in order of importance): write, play guitar and drink bourbon on the porch, go to the mountains to swim, nap with the wife and the cat, cut grass.

Never choose cities over mountains or beaches. Never choose mountains over cities or beaches. Never choose beaches over mountains or cities.

Passports go bad if you don’t use them.

Music must always be playing in the background.

Eat sushi, Mexican food, cheeseburgers, pizza, and Indian food regularly for balance.

Bikes are meant to be ridden, not admired.

Never buy cheap alcohol.

Read the books you buy.

Star parties all summer long.

Love and torture the cat with equal enthusiasm.

Find a new band, a new writer, and a new restaurant every month.

Never settle for mediocre Chinese take-out.

Not finishing a hike is fine as long as you promise right then and there to finish it the next time.

Know how to change a bike tube and use a chain tool.

John said, “All you need is love,” but he was the only person on earth able to live without The Beatles. You need to know why they are the greatest if you don’t already.

No matter what local delight a back road gas station has for sale in a basket on a counter, buy it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a moon pie or boiled peanuts.

Learn the differences between black, green and oolong, and have a favorite.

It is perfectly acceptable to go out for ice cream every night of the week between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Attend at least one life-changing concert per year.

Memorize quotes from movies and TV shows.

Favorite hats and t-shirts must never be thrown away. They must either disappear or disintegrate.

Know the people at your favorite restaurants on a first name basis.

The letters should be wearing off of your computer’s keyboard.

Don’t stop the carnival.

My soul mate is much more succinct, and needs only one essential: “Beauty, love, and art. A little house, many books, cherished friends and family. Good food, unique experiences, daily delights, and appreciating them all.”