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What is really funny, is that this Cousin, is Aunt Helens younger boy...now you remember, Aunt Helen will buy no alcohol for anyone, even tho she is handed the money....and her son, is quite the drinker...

This cousin is an interesting character...as a young child, he had very bad claustrophobia, and even in school, the teachers had to leave the classroom door open, so he would not freak out....most times, he never slept in the house...he slept on the roof...over the years, his claustrophobia has lessened somewhat, as he can tolerate sleeping in the house....

But he loves being out of doors as much as is humanly possible...he lives on 9 acres, way up on a hill, which has only one rotten accessible road to it...hes not a hermit, but he loves his privacy, and does not encourage outsiders to visit...tho friends and family are always encouraged to come and stay, and drink...keeps an old metal washtub filled with ice, and beer, perpetually on the front porch...

He works in the woods when weather permits, riding the crummy with the other loggers....when sheep shearing time comes around, all the locals bring their sheep to him for shearing...he makes do with just the basics, tho he does have a wife who works in a doctors office(She considers herself more civilized than he, but she loves him anyway)....she provides the love and the few luxuries they have...

By contrast, Aunt Helens other son, has his doctorate, teaches at University of Louisville, in Kentucky...his wife is also a teacher...they have a huge custom built huge log cabin, have antiques, and many other luxuries, and are in the social set in their area...

Yet, the son with the doctorate, often states, that the hermit like son, is the one, who has truly found his niche in life, and is probably one of the happiest men hes ever known...

A great contrast in two brothers, just a few years apart, raised by the same two parents...

;-) I truly hope you're writing all this down and saving it. You have either a best selling book, a screenplay, or both.

Free spirits, like your hermit-cousin, Oscar & Marion, Uncle Johnny, and our palo, are very special people. It's a blessing for me to read about them and see how some folks live life on their terms - not those of others.

Until I met Mrs.lodwick at age 32, my plan was to be one of those free spirits who answered to no one, and went my own way like a leaf in the breeze. But committment turned my life in a different, not better and not worse, just different direction, and I've tried to do the best I can with this new course that's been set for me.

that is interesting bout the two brothers
there are a lot of members on your dad's side of the family who seem to have no interest in living in society at all
they are friendly hospitable convivial
but they live by their own rules
I think it's nice they allow themselves that option and the rest of the family accepts it
most people allow themselves so little freedom of choice.
I congratulate your family in letting themselves have so much
Love, Palo