Welcome!
This is a place for late bloomers unpacking what made them who they are. Some of us are neurodivergent, some aren’t.
I’m R. Michael. I spent twelve years cooking on yachts and hiding that I was gay until I was almost thirty. Now I live in camper in Australia with my husband, Cade, and our dog, Chase. I write about late-in-life ADHD, finding my voice, and making sense of the trauma that shaped me.
If you want to stop running and look at the moments that made you who you are, you’re in the right place.
Where to start
If you’re new, you don’t need to read everything. Here are a few essays that show what we do here:
How this place works
My brain works in a few different gears. I split my writing into three paths so you always know what you’re reading.
Ungarnished These are the core essays. We look at the past and take it apart until it makes sense.
Unmasked These are the ADHD files. I look at my life and my shame after a late diagnosis.
Handwritten This is about finding your voice. We explore how to use AI as a tool to write better, instead of letting a machine do it for you.
How to join in
All of my essays are free. You can read everything without paying a thing. We also have a free chat called Ungarnished where anyone can drop in and talk about the latest posts.
If you want to hang out with Cade, me, and other readers, we have a paid tier called The Scenic Route. The motto is “Come as you are.” This is a place to hang out as equals. It isn’t therapy or counseling. It costs US$8 a month or US$80 a year, and you get 25% off your first year if you join before 31 December.
We’re rolling features over the next couple of months.
Open now:
Not That Anyone Asked our private members’ chat
Coming soon:
Parallel Parking: weekly body doubling on Zoom
Are We There Yet?: a monthly live Q&A
Camp Chair Conversations: monthly recorded talks with me and Cade
The Fridge Door: one topic, with a short list of links we’ve checked ourselves
In December, I’ll also launch a top tier called First Draft for people who want a lighter version of Handwritten with a monthly Zoom workshop.
Paid or free, I’m just glad you’re here. Subscribe below, and let’s get started.
—Ron