As a teen, I had a recurring daydream of living in a fire lookout tower. To spend all of my time out West lazing about a cozy wooden structure, using the radio, hiking the trails, being paid just to look at the forest... That was the life, I thought.

As I've gotten older, I have found myself closer to that daydream than I ever have before. Having experience studying forest management and ecological conservation means I could realistically land one of those seasonal low-paying positions at some point. Yet, honestly, my ambitions have only grown higher.

I think a lot now about transmission towers. Why different ones come in different shapes. How they work. What it would be like to climb one. I like to imagine somehow getting supplies up there, adding little bits of metal on to make some sort of urban treehouse to live in. I think about ziplining down on the wires. I pass radio and TV towers and I can't stop thinking the same things. But I'll probably never actually end up on any of them, they're all only compelling loci of escapism for me. In truth, I Just Like Big Towers That Go Into The Sky.

Earlier today, I watched a youtube video about ham radio operators and felt a familiar I Wanna Do That On A Big Tower In The Sky feeling. It reminded me of that feeling of technological awe I have towards what should probably look like eyesores to me. Somehow they read more like religious monuments, almost inhuman monoliths of achievement that invite such intense curiosity.

This might sound strange, but I think one of the most religious experiences I've ever had was during a harrowing drive home after a concert from Chicago. I was tired and near hallucinating, wondering why my friend and I hadn't just shelled out for a place to stay the night. Suddenly, against an ink-black indiana sky, I saw the blinking of red lights in the distance. It was rhythmic and enchanting, I felt like they were singing to each other. As I approached, I realized them to be aviation safety beacons atop the turbines in a wind farm. Driving through the vast field of wind turbines, I felt like I was an ant passing through the realm of old gods I had no understanding of.

Chances are if we're ever on a walk and I start quietly staring into space, I've seen a big ol' tower and I wanna go live on it. It's nice to have my own little perfect idea of an escapist paradise, it feels like it can be whatever I want it to. I wonder what gives other people that same feeling.