Change and Courage
The midnight sun means we burn the candle on both ends. After 30+ years in Alaska our circadian rhythms have adjusted to the frenetic outward pace of summer contrasted by the slow, easy, inward pace of winter.
Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska
July has been both fast-paced and completely chill. We’ve spent just 12 nights at home while the rest has been mostly camping, fishing and boating with a variety of family and friends from near and far. It was a relaxing and laid-back time with loved ones from here as well as those we’ve not seen in a while. And it’s always wonderful to explore the many faces of the ocean. We watched whales breaching, bald eagles fishing, sea otters frollicking, and Coho salmon jumping as they make their way to their spawning grounds.
The last week of the month we traveled to Ontario to reconnect with some dear friends and enjoy time at their lake cottage - something that we had dreamed of doing for many years. As a child I learned to sail and water ski on the lakes of New Hampshire and I hold a deep connection with lake life. Great memories were made and rekindled that week.
Ahmic Lake, Magnetawan, Ontario
The few days we were actually home we worked on buttoning things up at the barn: hooking up a generator for winter power outages, adding gravel to the driveway in preparation for plowing, building a gate in the cow pasture, harvesting the few herbs and flowers I grew, and attempting to empty the freezer and cupboards. And of course making more lists of things we need to do before we depart. We also secured boat insurance, and furthered our research on travel medical insurance. We continue to discuss our projected itinerary but so much is still unknown. Where will we stay when we get to Turkey and for how long? What do we need to purchase to live aboard and when will that actually be? When will the boat be approved for us to take possession? How does the transfer of ownership happen? And then what?
All the unknowns make me nervous and fearful. My chest gets tight and if I dwell on it too long I feel the beginnings of a headache coming on. I’ve learned to recognize these feelings. I remind myself that this is what it feels like outside of my comfort zone. I remind myself that change brings growth. I remind myself to breath. And I recognize that hanging out in these spaces, without trying to change them, is the real challenge. So I’m trying to remain open, to sit with my fears, to slow down and embrace vulnerability, and to be brave.