"Don't wish me happiness I don't expect to be happy all the time....It's gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Friday 6 February 2015

A long way's home

The previous trip to town I pulled the top muscles in one foot after putting on a pair of wool socks over my cotton tights. I knew that my feet would get cold in just the tights in my rubber boots so I thought this would rectify the problem. Unfortunately by the time I got to my truck on the mainland and removed the offending socks the damage was done. I decided I wasn't going to make this mistake again so I bought leggings in town. Once the shopping was done and we were finally back on the island I had to make three trips from the wharf with the wheelbarrow to bring everything home. Part of the time I packed my toddler in a backpack. It was dark before I got it done and I had to stash two loads part ways home. All of this is normal although this time I had an extra trip. The following morning I went back and got the remaining totes. After that I spent the next three days inside resting my foot. The stack of chopped, dry wood on my back deck never looked so beautiful. The trip I made to town this week I wore my skirt, leggings and hand knit wool socks in my Baffin rubber boots and my feet were toasty warm. I had learned the lesson the hard way. Since I was feeling comfortable my memory of the day is more pleasant and I enjoyed watching the interplay of light on the still water and the rolling waves of fog shifting across the sea scape. As we went in and out of stores the rain was like mist and settled on us like shower spray. In this picture it is late afternoon and we are approaching the island in the boat. From the time I leave the cabin until the time I'm standing in Walmart is 1.5 hrs. The return trip is much longer and so it is a long way's home.

Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone

6 comments:

  1. And I gripe because we don't have enough variety of stores here in Lake Havasu. I grew up in the country in Vermont, but then spent the first 25+ years of my adult life in Boston. We left Boston for San Diego (another big city) where lived onboard our 44' sailboat in a marina for 5 years. We left there after my husband's job disappeared after 9/11 and moved toTucson, AZ which was a much smaller city, and now in Lake Havasu, AZ, where the population runs about 45-50 thousand depending on the tourist season.

    I don't think at this age I could do what you are doing but it certainly makes for a quiet and reflective lifestyle and that I envy you sometimes.

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  2. I guess it's all a matter of perspective! Personally I dislike shopping and would rather avoid it. I know the days I spend in town I lay in bed a long time trying to get my nerves to calm down. I'm sure living in a boat at a marina must have been a very interesting experience and encouraged you to choose what was and wasn't important. I think anyone can have a reflective lifestyle - it's all about being in that headspace although it can be difficult for all of us at times. Thank you for reading and sharing!

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  3. Wow - you certainly live in an isolated area, and although i don't have to travel to "town" by boat - I certainly understand the lack of excitement about having to go. I would much rather be in the woods, on a mountain, or in our cozy home, than traversing the stores. A necessary evil, I suppose!

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  4. I know you live in such a pretty area of northern Idaho. I'm certain your drive to town is quite scenic. Mine is to.....but I'd prefer to drive right through town and keep going....Thankyou for reading and commenting.

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  5. I'm sorry you hurt your foot and glad that it's okay now. I always think living on an island sounds romantic, and I'm sure it is in many respects. Still, there is the reality of certain inconveniences. Much as there are where we live. We're quite isolated in NE Oregon. No big box stores in the entire county, which has a population of 7,000. We're 1-1/2 hours from the nearest town with Wal-Mart type shopping. But I do love it here. It's very peaceful. Hugs, Nancy

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  6. I find the peaceful necessary. I don't buy that much from Walmart.....mostly things like toilet paper but I have to drive to town to buy everything else as well so I go there to. It sounds very peaceful where you live Nancy. Thank you for sharing.

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