Many thanks to all for the encouragement both public and private. Long way to go yet, long way. For those who haven't figured it out yet, we are working ahead, and having just spent two solid weeks hammering on Galt's speech I'm beat. Pub' feels the same way.
I don't think, frankly, that I possess quite the human perfection to be invited to Galt's Gulch, and I'm not sure I'd be very happy there if I were. But if I were, and if I were, I'm not sure I'd want to leave. Rand's characters seem champing at the bit to return to the world that has taken everything they had, and only those for whom that sort of construction presents their source of self-actualization are likely to react that way. They are driven to create because they're creators, or something like that, but it is a little bit circular, like saying that I'm driven to drink beer because I'm a beer-drinker. There may be something to that, however, because suddenly it sounds like an awfully good idea... ;-)
But I'm more the Eddie Willers type, so I'm not sure I'll get an invitation. If you haven't started a steel mill by the time you're my age, then it's too late.