There’s just no two ways about it, the life of an audiophile is a solitary affair- at least when listening to music. Let’s face it. Our spouses, our family and our friends don’t give a damn about the copy of “Who’s Next” we bought having an unsatisfying lack of transparency or that new copy of “Meddle” blowing our hair back in just the right way.

I can’t help but think of our dreaded U.S. president elect and his wee hours tweeting when I consider the hours I spend indulging in the pleasures of vinyl. And this has me wondering about this hobby and whether the value of it goes anywhere beyond compulsion, sensory stimulation and pleasure.

In the case of Donald Trump, there’s an incapacity for any experience beyond pleasure. This includes the pleasure of battling an enemy and diminishing his or her value and the pleasure of making enemies by trampling upon the values that they hold dear, only to turn around later and try to sweet talk them into thinking him an ally – these are among the pleasures that drive the man who’s to be our next president.

And whatever else you might think of Trump, you have to acknowledge (and perhaps even take a certain perverse pleasure in) the fact that the man never really smiles or laughs. To me, this means he will never be able to have an experience that goes beyond pleasure. Trump will never experience joy. He can bully every single person on this planet and tweet 24 hours a day and still, joy is simply not a possibility for him. It’s an experience that will forever be beyond his capacity as a person. God help us all.

Joy is the experience of pleasure that transcends the individual having the experience. Pleasure will always be my experience alone, and in the best of circumstances, at least it does no harm to others. Sometimes though, my pleasure is enjoyed at the expense of others.

Joy never harms others. It is infectious and is always accompanied by the burning desire to share the experience. Joy goes beyond pleasure by orienting us outwards to our loved ones, family, friends and a community.

As an audiophile, my consumption of music is different than that of the average person. My music consumption eschews technological conveniences. My music consumption requires research, person to person communication with records sellers, snail mail and the delayed gratification necessary to provide time for careful record cleaning and attentive and educated listening. And when a record is a flop, I can’t just download another one. I have to start over again.

So why put up with all the hassle? Joy. When a record really delivers on both performance and sound quality the experience is pure joy. And while I fully admit that when I’m engaged in the listening experience it’s just me there with the music, I still contend that the experience is joyful because I so want to share the experience with others. It’s just so damn good!

That’s why I have you – my readers. You are my outlet for sharing the intense pleasure I take in this most rarified form of music consumption. You are the only ones who understand why I’m prattling on about a 45 year old David Bowie album. You get it and I thank you for that, for without you I’d be nothing more than an OCD record junkie. Rock on!