A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be.

Some pretty negative comments made about a certain musician/houseguest warranted its own post.

There's nothing that urks me more than people who tell others to "grow up." While I understand the need to support yourself, I also envy those who can avoid the real world as long as possible. Musicians and artists are a different breed, ones who don't fit the mold that society has cut out for them. That's what makes their presence so juicy. You can feel the creativity flowing when you're with them and the fact that they're not like everyone else is what makes them so attractive.

I've always had musicians and artists in my life. These are the people who inspire me. I was out with my 20-year-old friend Cathy a few days ago. We went into a record store and there was this guy with long, blue black hair, a nose piercing, and the bluest eyes and sweetest smile you've ever seen. Most likely a musician, he looked to be in his 30s. Yes, he was working in a record store, probably making little more than minimum wage, but he appeared happy.

To expect people to live a version of someone else's life is ludicrious. To tell someone to "grow up." Why? I will never grow up. I'm not a musician, nor am I an artist, but I am a writer who appreciates the wonderful qualities of those who dance to a different drummer. I've managed to avoid the real world for the past 11 years, owning my own promotion company, editing and publishing my own magazine, doing public relations for clients I chose to work with at my office in my home overlooking the beach, and now, writing a book and pursuing a master's so I can teach college students to question everything.

To those of you who advise others to "grow up," my advice is to step out of your cubicle and quit throwing stones at the ones who make life a little more colorful. It would be a very boring world if everyone conformed to the standard society has set. As for my houseguest, his music is beautiful. He's with the record label responsible for the success of many careers including Beck's, his CD's are sold all over the world, and he's seen parts of the world many of you only dream about. To the ones who would love to see him give up his dream, all I can say is, it's true that misery loves company. What other motive would spark such negativity?

I met a very interesting 40 something guy a few weeks ago. He's very good looking- longish dark hair, black rim glasses, and very rich. He's an artist and a major player in the investment biz. He's found a way to stay true to his art while racking in the big bucks. After hanging with him a while, he told me the secret to his success and happiness. In his own words, "I refuse to grow up."