I had a memorable experience about 20 years ago. Staying at a rented cottage in Northern Ontario with family and friends, we were playing cards in the evening, and around midnight I decided to go outside. I strolled down to the dock where there was a muskoka chair, sat back, threw out a fishing line (only for something to do), then sat back and listened for the night sounds. All I could hear was my own breathing, so I held my breath. There was not a ripple of water, no breeze touched the leaves, no frogs peeping or croaking, no birds making any kind of noise, no traffic, no insects. It was eerie, but at the same time very calming, relaxing, soothing.. I sat there immobile for about a half hour. It's an experience that I have remembered clearly and fondly since then.

On the other hand, I like music playing softly in the background while I'm doing things around the house, or tapes playing a little more loudly if I'm driving alone.

I too, like others, don't like restaurants that are too noisy, or clubs where the music is so loud that you can't carry on a conversation with the person beside you without shouting.

Davey (:>)