The Pull of Two Worlds

April 12, 2013 1:45 pm

A dock with ropes tied to it and grass growing on it, and the water beyond.

The Ties that Bind – Land and Sea

This image, taken last summer in Port McNeill, seems to sum up the way my two worlds – land and sea – bump up against each other and compete for my attention.

Every spring and summer I am torn between the two. One half of me is tethered to the land, wanting to be home in the garden…the other half is casting off the lines, wanting to slip away to explore the BC coast. Both worlds pull at me, in a dichotomy I’ve felt for most of my life.

For the past five summers the sea has won out, and we’ve gone boating. This summer it’s time for the land to win a round, so we’re staying home. I’m looking forward to warm days, dinners on the (land-locked) deck, hammock time and fresh garden veggies.

Of course, living on an island, the sea is never far away, so hopefully I’ll get out on the water now and then. And if that proves difficult, some vicarious boating should be easy enough, since I still have plenty of photos from recent summers afloat to process…perhaps you’d like to “come along”?

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Posted by Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment

8 Responses to “The Pull of Two Worlds”

Quite honestly that sounds like an amazing internal conflict with winning or winning as the outcome.

By Charlie@Seattle Trekker on April 12, 2013 at 10:35 pm

You’re right – it’s a great problem to have!

By Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment on April 13, 2013 at 9:39 am

Yes, yes. I will happily come along. I love your images from the boat. But I seriously adore this one. It is one of my faves of yours. You have captured a feeling that really speaks to me. You really have the best of both worlds don’t you, living on an island? I’m ordering heirloom seeds to plant in May. The first package arrived today.

By Sherry Galey on April 12, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Great! You will have both worlds this year – and two summers, in a way! Thanks for the kudos on the image – it’s an odd one, but I kept coming back to it each time I reviewed my pix, so decided it was time it saw the light of day.

By Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment on April 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm

Summer on the land sounds like a great plan! Enjoy!

By Phil Lanoue on April 12, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Thanks, Phil! Maybe my photos will be sharper this summer – I will be able to use a tripod, unlike on the boat! 🙂

By Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment on April 12, 2013 at 4:47 pm

Now there’s a lovely invite 🙂

By Martin Shone on April 12, 2013 at 2:05 pm

Happy to have you along for the journey, Martin!

By Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment on April 12, 2013 at 4:47 pm

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