It is said that time flies when you are having fun and I reckon the saying has the ring of truth to it. I know for us it is hard to believe it was a decade ago today that Linda and I signed the contract for the sale of our beloved Lakewood Cottage, propelling us on our mobile adventure. And it is equally safe to say that we have enjoyed the journey from there to here beyond our wildest dreams.
So, what are takeaways from our experience to date? For starters, we have learned it matters very much for us to live in a place that feeds our souls. And we are reminded daily how much the natural beauty of our surroundings engages our senses and makes us feel alive. Words cannot adequately describe what it means to be enveloped by the sea, with all its encompassing sights, sounds, and smells.
On the wall of the newly constructed library in a nearby town are the words of Sarah Orne Jewett, author of The Country of the Pointed Firs, which she wrote not far from where I am writing this essay: “A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return.”
It is just such a harbor that has drawn us here and from which we endeavor to share something of value with the world outside our environs. A mere couple of weeks ago a local fisherman drowned in our little harbor and at his funeral held here at the lighthouse I was asked by his sister-in-law what I wrote about. Her query caught me off guard somewhat but I shared about the need to simplify our lives and make meaning of them.
Upon reflection afterward, I thought about the themes that resonate through my writing and noticed patterns that include place, home, belonging, identity, meaning, and lifestyle, among the overall minimalist messages. I even revisited my reading lists from the five years since moving to Maine and learned that of the couple hundred books I’ve read in that time fully three-fourths covered those very same issues.
Another mindful takeaway for us is to not pay too much attention to what other people think of our unique lifestyle. In the eloquent words of philosopher and author Howard Thurman: “There is something inside that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.” In other words, we are all simply called to be ourselves.
I cannot speak for anyone else, but I for one desire to live an authentic life, not according to another’s directives. Perhaps the most consequential lesson Linda and I have learned thus far on our adventure is to follow our hearts and ignore the critiques of others ignorant of our dreams. Dear reader, whatever it is that feeds your soul I hope you follow where it leads and you enjoy your own journey!