31 Days Of October- Stories of Island Living

"Stood off and on during the night, determining not to come to anchor till morning, fearing to meet with shoals; continued our course in the morning; and as the island was found to be six or seven leagues distant, and the tide was against us, it was noon when we arrived there. "

Christopher Columbus

I am writing for 31 Days in October with many other writers. To write everyday is daunting. I know, I did it last October. Last year I reviewed a book by Brené Brown entitled Rising Strong. Each day I shared concepts and principles which were changing my view of my life. This year the goal is bigger. I want to write about my almost 30 years on a island in the Puget Sound of the Northwest. When I arrived here it was normal for the long time residents to call us newcomers. In the summer people came just for the warm months and many who come to stay find their stay cut short. Today I claim to be an old timer. I have been here since 1987.  

   What is it like to live on an island with ferry access only? I hope to answer that question. Betty MacDonald wrote about her life here in Onions In The Stew. She was here in the 1940's but so many of her stories still apply today. I will quote her frequently to highlight my own insights. 

     " Everything on the island grows with insane vigor and you have the distinct feeling, as you leave the dock and start up the main highway, that you should have hire a native guide or at least brought along a machete. Nothing but the assiduous chopping and slashing by the county and the telephone and power companies keeps this jungle from closing up the highways altogether."

                                      The titles will become clickable as they go live.

1. Moving On
2. Gathering Supplies 
3. You Must Be Independent
4. Moving Inland
5. Ferry Adventures
6. Island Wildlife
7. The Test Of Challenging Weather
8. My First Island Business
9. Sunday Reflections
10. Walks In The Forest
11. A Bike In The Tree
12. Island Home Education
13. Twinkle Lights Everywhere
14. Island Mail
15. Island Swingset Music and Movement
16. Island Church Service
17. Watching The Sunrise
18.  The Island Piano Guy
19. Subscription Bread
20. Guest Post- Jenni From The Chronicles Of Farnina
21. Guest Post- A Park Called Nature by Maggie
22. Guest Post- Island Dying by Andrew
23. My Early Morning Guests
24. Last Witness To My Birth
25. The Island Artist Community
26. An Island Artist
27. An Island Gift, Claiming Creativity
28. Eating From The Farm
29. Our Island Library
30. Meditation and Prayer
31. Mindful Monday Summary

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