[On the ideal life after court service had been completed:]
I should like to live in a large, attractive house. My family would of course be staying with me; and in one of the wings I should have a friend, an elegant lady-in-waiting from the Palace, with whom I could converse.
Whenever we wished, we should meet to discuss recent poems and other things of interest. When my friend received a letter, we should read it together and write our answer. If someone came to pay my friend a visit, I should receive him in one of our beautifully decorated rooms, and if he was prevented from leaving by a rain-storm or something of the sort, I should warmly invite him to stay. Whenever my friend went to the Palace, I should help her with her preparations and see that she had what was needed during her stay at Court. For everything about well-born people delights me.
But I suppose this dream of mine is rather absurd. [p.245-246]
Source:http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/shonagon.html#anchor520714
Summary/Synopsis- Simply, this woman desires a palatial or well-off court life where she could just lounge about, write poetry, and entertain guests. In terms of significance to the Heian period, this shows how common it was for people to desire a cushioned, court life full of romance andsocializing. This shows that the Heian Period was very cultured and that people (aristocrats) had the money and time to pursue such seemingly trivial pursuits.
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