The image I really wanted to use looks like this: A tug of war in process with a group vigorously pulling on one end of the rope while a single person holds the other end. Of course, that would have been the solo researcher on the one end and the community on the other. However, I never could find a free image, so I decided to use this charming vintage picture instead.  I think they both could be fine, but slightly different representations of the idea.  What comes to mind for me is that any kind of collaboration requires some degree of “tugging” around whatever real or perceived “power” is associated with the relationship. Even in very productive collaborations, each of the sides, at least some times, needs different things, wants different things to happen, believes differently at different points–and wants to “pull the rope” their way, in their direction. Sometimes one side may really have the power to pull the rope and move it their way–regardless of the resistance the other side puts up (or because the other side gives up and doesn’t resist or their resistance has been worn down). An important issue then, is how to find where the rope can exist with tension pulling on both ends while remaining in a place that is going to allow for continued productive collaboration.  More thinking to do on this idea…