have an agenda-free, broad-ranging conversation with intelligent friends or colleagues.

I wonder at the requisite ‘intelligent’ requirement on friends and colleagues. I had always thought ‘even the village idiot has his story to tell’. A conversation with intelligent companions on one day may fire up thoughts, insights, and revelations in one direction, perhaps. On another day an encounter that engages emotions, spirituality, or even the merest validation of a glance, smile, or courtesy from a stranger, might also serve to inspire, to affirm or question, or to otherwise stimulate thinking, feeling, regard for the world about us, and even enrich our lives, and our work.

It’s not expensive coffee, it’s cheap rent.