If you're ever around Boston, make the sidetrip to Walden Pond - it's a preserved park area, still pretty rustic and unspoiled, and (to me) bigger than I'd pictured it from Thoreau's writings.

I'm challenged by Emerson as well, Taylor. His stuff can be tough to get through, but the nuggets of gold in his writings are worth it.

And Julie, the environmentalist and activist in me always gets inspired by Thoreau. I always liked the exchange between Thoreau and Emerson when Thoreau was in jail for some protest and Emerson came to bail him out. Emerson said something like, "Henry, what are you doing in there?" and Thoreau relied, "Ralph, what are YOU doing OUT THERE!"

Excuse the loose quotes, but to me, quite motivating.

Bob