The location is isolated only in the sense that few people know of its location. It sits within a major metropolitan area as its occupants would not abide by mountainous or countryside isolation. The monks within the walls of this monastery do live there under vows but not of the religious kind. These are vows to live a life in pursuit of knowledge. Learning, researching, writing, conversing, and stretching the boundaries of what is currently known is the only religion within these walls. By default, certainly not by any plan, the Monks in this monastery are by nature introverts and are very comfortable not saying a word to somebody sitting right next to them. They are more comfortable with a book or pen in their hand than they are forcing small talk. Nothing puts the fear of Galileo into their hearts faster than the prospect of talking about other people…with another person.

Think of all the building facades you see when you are in a city. Basic, ordinary, and nothing that sticks within your memory for any extended period of time. Hundreds of people walk by on a daily basis and think nothing of what is behind the doors and windows of the building mere feet from where they walk. It is within one of these buildings that the 37 occupants of the monastery reside, study, write, and exist. Their backgrounds are diverse and range from Poet to Physicist to Plastic Surgeon. All with successful careers, they came to the monastery just as their sanity was stretched to its limits and each day was a fight against the tide simply losing their shit. Now, when these people lose it nobody gets hurt and nothing ends up in the newspapers. Losing it to these monks meant that began talking to themselves more and more, sought out opportunities to be alone working on a project, and found great comfort in a dark room, fan blowing nearby, surrounded by books and the sweet sight of a flat screen TV. They never got to the point where they could not function, they simply had run out of gas and the thought of not function at a “normal” level was not only comforting but also amusing to their slightly damage psyches.

The individual rooms are small but have all of the necessities that one must have in order to function as a civilized human. A few of these items include GB/second wi-fi speed, dial a number single mattresses, a fan or fans of your choice, floor to ceiling bookcases, easy access to fresh cold water, minimum 42″ TV, computer arrangement of your choice, ergonomic chairs, a small refrigerator, 2 gas burners for random ramen incidents, proper pillows, multiple USB and electric outlets, a charging station, a wardrobe for clothes/shoes, a basic chest of drawers for other basics, space to store LEGOs (they aren’t animals) a bed for a dog (S, M, L, XL), gaming console(s) of your choice, and a desk just for writing. The minimum basics. Common areas are for cooking and for dining and done in the style of Oxford, Cambridge, or meal time at Hogwarts. Long tables and long benches. Menus are developed weekly and there is enough variety to please any palate. Ingredients are locally acquired except in the cases where local is just not good enough. Attempts are made to be pleasing and responsible residents of the city but let’s be honest, a ton of stuff is ordered directly from Amazon. 1-click purchasing. In tune with the civilized nature of the monastery.

There are two residents who like to garden (can you imagine?) so there is a garden on site, likely on the roof. When playing in the dirt, the Monks look like any other inner city gardener digging and hoeing on a rooftop. Those looking down on the scene from the windows of the surrounding building see nothing out of the ordinary and certainly do not think they are staring down at a couple of Monks. The others would rather be inside doing what they came there to do; read, study, converse (about ideas), and write on the plentiful number of old-fashioned blackboards with real chalk. Now, you are thinking Monks and monastery so this must be a bunch of men. No. A sausage party this is not and women are welcome to be part of the monastery. Requirements for entry are the same for all and will vary depending on the political climate, needs of the monastery, and any other variables that may need to be added. The one requirement that will not be compromised is that all those who enter must not have a criminal record of any sort. Drama, issues, problems, only take away from the common goal.