It’s New Year’s Day, a Blue Moon and the start of a fresh decade. You didn’t think I’d let you all off the hook without a pedantic essay, did you? Well, you’re lucky, ’cause I’m not gonna write one of those. No stomach for it.

In my “fave music of the aughts” post, I talked about what a right crime the 2000s have been. But that’s merely an observation of externalities. My personal experiences of the last ten years have been largely positive. Sure, there have been struggles, upheavals and more change than a fellow like myself would prefer. But it’s basically been OK. Plus, I figure I should start looking on the bright side. Just don’t go calling that a New Year’s resolution.

Here’s some of the swell stuff that happened to me in the last ten years — in handy list form, no less.

• I got married. Kind of came out of nowhere for both of us really, but we I think we subconsciously knew when we met each other. And our wedding was really something special — the best party I’ve ever been to. From here on out, whatever happens is cake. Which doesn’t mean I won’t complain. But that’s mostly out of habit.
• I became a professional. What, I’m still not sure. But I don’t think I’ll be cleaning out grease traps again anytime soon (knock on wood). I suppose I’d have always considered myself a “professional” musician, although that term has been so devalued as to be almost meaningless. Still, this was the decade where I put retail and other forms of employment drudgery behind me. I was lucky enough to become a full-time music writer, thanks to one of the finest rags on the planet. And if that wasn’t cool enough, I became a professional recordist, although I don’t take on many clients anymore due to selfishness and a perverse need to sleep. After that I became a communications director in Washington, DC. So it’s been pretty sweet on the career front (knock on more wood). I guess I probably should go back to school. But that would ruin the narrative.
• I moved to a new city. This was huge. I hate moving, even down the street. I know now there are reasons for this odd aversion, but I still feel good about having gotten up the gumption to do it. Actually, I borrowed some of my wife’s gumption. I’m sure it won’t be the last time.
• I made three records I don’t hate. Soft Rock, Northern Lights and Eldritch Musicks. I was pushing for a fourth, but the clock ran out. Oh well. I hope to squeak another trilogy off before 2012 comes along and the Interstellar Machine Elves/Mayan Star Gods turn our local spacetime equilibrium into a 5D scene from the unfilmed sequel to Caligula.
• I started a media empire. (What? You’re looking at it, jerk-o!) And I’m nowhere near done.
• I didn’t age. Well, I did get fat after we moved to DC, but I lost 50 pounds in three months, putting me back at about where I like to be. Seriously, I’m never gonna grow old. I have a special painting that makes it so. Eat it, Facebook!
• I tasted single malt Scotch whisky. Deeply and correctly. This is a fairly recent development, but it’s probaby the most significant one, apart from getting married. I feel like I found religion. Except I tithe to a select few distilleries, rather than a church.
• I became more open to ideas. Mostly my own ideas, but occasionally those of others. Seriously, my confidence in my own abilities has made it a lot easier to recognize what others bring to the table. I’m sure there’s a Latin phrase that sums it all up nicely. But what happens if it’s spoken sdrawkcab?
• I became a Scientologist. Just kidding.

Happy New Year, humans.

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About the author

Casey Rae-Hunter
Casey Rae-Hunter is a musician, public policy wonk and the editor/publisher of The Contrarian Media. An in-demand speaker, he gives frequent talks at conferences and campuses on issues at the intersection of creativity, technology, policy and law, and is a go-to source for major media outlets from NPR to the New York Times. Casey works alongside leaders in the music, arts and performance sectors to bolster understanding of and engagement in key policy and technology issues, and has written dozens of articles on the impact of technology on the creative community. Casey is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and the Deputy Director for Future of Music Coalition. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Media & Democracy Coalition and the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture. The Contrarian does not necessarily represent the views of the organizations to which he belongs.