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Bankrate: Given that you've taken on the simple, Key West, bike-riding
lifestyle, what is the biggest extravagance you allow yourself?
Strickland:
Sixteen years without putting out an album. That
was pretty extravagant. When I think back on it
now ... we did continue to work and perform, but
it's pretty extravagant. I kind of look back and
go, wow, I just spent 16 years not really writing
anything.
Bankrate: During that time, were you working on the road a lot, or just
playing a few gigs here and there and relaxing at home?
Strickland: We performed a lot. It was fairly consistent. A lot of
one-offs, where you do one or two shows a month and then you come back home. Not a tour, per se. But then we did several
tours almost every summer, short tours.
Bankrate: Given the band's image, one might think you're into flashy things.
In general, are you and your band mates flashy people?
Strickland:
Not really. I'm certainly not. But I've never
been one of the flamboyant ones. In our personal
lives, we're not that outrageous, really.
Bankrate: And Kate owns an inn in Woodstock. That also seems about as
down-to-earth as it gets.
Strickland: Yeah. It's cute. It's really fun. It's kind of like
an art project.
Bankrate: I would guess that if any of you were flamboyant or flashy,
it would be Fred.
Strickland: You'd be surprised. He really isn't. And he's really
shy. We all are, actually. Kate's probably the least shy. She would be the most outgoing. Cindy and I would be the
most shy, and Fred would be next. But he can turn it on when he needs to.
Bankrate: And he's also living more of a down-home life?
Strickland: Yeah. He loves to collect records, vinyl albums, and
(he) has quite an impressive collection -- a lot of R&B stuff. It's pretty eclectic.
Bankrate: What's the most positive aspect of growing older?
Strickland:
I don't know what I thought 50 was, even in my
30s, but it really is not that different. Maybe
I'm really lucky, in good health and all, but
I feel great, and we're all doing really, really
well. It really is a nonissue. You read about
it in the press, they make reference to it, but
you go, "well, what choice do we have?"
To be a bit more serious about it: The thing about it is, I lost so many friends in the '80s who died
of AIDS. Ever since then, I've never had a problem with my age. I've always been like, "I'm one of the lucky ones." And
so I just never had that hang-up, or been uptight about my age at all. I feel blessed, and I think we all are.
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