Why do I blog?

I got a very nice e-mail today from a reader (apparently a non-blogger) who asked some interesting questions about the psychology/philosophy of blogging.
And, last week I got tagged with a meme by VinnieG, in which I must explain five different reasons why I blog.
I'm going to kill two birds with one stone here, and post this explanation:

I started blogging because Morgen talked me into it. I've always loved to write long letters to friends, and it seemed logical to Morgen that blogging would be a great hobby for me. At first I didn't like the idea; I somehow thought that people would be plagiarizing my stuff, taking any good ideas I had and claiming them as their own.
But I ended up trying it anyway. My first post was in August 2006, and I've grown to love blogging more and more since then. It's a great catharsis during stressful times. And of course it's a fun way to display my craziness. :)

I've grown reasonably comfortable with the idea of people I've never met reading what I write. I don't think I have a particularly large readership, at least not compared to some of the other highly-trafficked blogs out there. So I'm comfortable thinking of my blog as a comfy cozy living room where all my cyber-friends can meet and read my stuff while they munch on yummy snacks and drink refreshing beverages. I like the informality of it all. People stop by, they read, they comment if they want to, and that's that.
They DO feel like my virtual neighbors.
It's really kind of nice.

Five reasons why I blog:

1) I love having a forum where I can be as nutty as I want, as much as I want!
2) I love knowing that at least SOME people like my stuff enough to keep coming back for more. It helps make me feel better, during moments of self-doubt.
3) I need the emotional outlet, when I am having a lousy day.
4) The daily practice helps me to write more effectively.
5) I value the friends I've met online through blogging, and I want to keep "talking" to them through this venue.
.