I had the opportunity yesterday for some quiet time. I wasn't feeling too hot so I did not go to town with B. Darn, missed another chance to go to our little grocery store.
Around here, alone time is hard to come by. One of the sometimes bad side effects of being retired is that we are always together. Most of the time I love that, but once in awhile it is nice to just have alone time. Time to think. Time to plan. Time to remember. No music, no TV, no having to maintain 1/2 of a conversation. I normally hate being alone, but sometimes the soul just needs it.
I sat for awhile on our front porch. Watching the ocean and listening to the sounds of the neighborhood and the water. Except there weren't any. It took me a bit to realize how absolutely quiet it was. It was an exceptional time.
The ocean was just plain lazy and acted worn out and old. The occassional wave would come to shore, flipping over at the last moment to expose its' white belly before disappearing without a trace or memory of it on the shore.
The piercing call of a blackbird could be heard. But not very often. It sounded like even they could not get enough oxygen out of the humidity laden air to even bother to announce their territory.
The road out front, usually a busy highway between the south and north ends of the island, was almost deserted. A few golf carts, laden with surprisingly quiet tourists, meandered past. Just lazily driving along and enjoying the tremendously blue and clear water of the ocean. Rocks were clearly visible just below the surface, creating darker blue blobs amidst the blue topaz of the water.
Locals drove by on motorscooters. They are normally fast little machines, buzzing by at breakdown speed. Their owners and riders always with a purpose and goal at the end of the road. Even they were different yesterday. It was like nobody had the energy to turn the throttle up high. Or any great desire to get where they were going.
I watched the lazy scenes unfolding before for as long as I could take it. Then I took a nap.
WE LEFT THE RAT RACE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND RETIRED TO THIS LITTLE ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN. THIS IS MY ACCOUNT OF THE TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, AND LITTLE JOYS OF LIVING IN MEXICO.
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15 comments:
Very well written Wayne; almost poetic at times.
Well written and thoughtful. I am glad you got some recharge time.
We actually passed by your house as you sat on the front porch enjoying your quiet, alone time. I waved but you seemed to be writing and weren't looking up. And you're right - the sea was so calm and clear, I was wishing I'd had my camera to take a picture of the rocks under the water - so pretty. People were actually swimming on the east side, it was that calm. The last time it was like that (that I remember) was this winter and I didn't have my camera again, and by the next day we had a wild wind upon us. Can't help but be lazy - it's sooooo humid!
Wow .. I really feel for you living is paradise!
An almost Faulknerian moment -- at your casa and on the page. Nicely done, sir.
So descriptive and beautifully written........in a calm, slow, relaxed kind of way. GREAT!
Great post Wayne, I could use a little porch time myself. Nice read!
Funny thing about peace and quiet. Some people know how to enjoy it, others (maybe after too much caffeine?) get antsy and seek noise. Silence and solitude are under-appreciated gifts.
I know what you mean about alone time. Craig was semi-retired (job-hunting) for over a year. A person just needs some alone time everyday. At least I do! I plan on getting a week of alone time in November! : ) And looking at a view very similar to yours! Can't wait!
Paul is trying to teach me the art of bench sitting, but after fifteen minutes I start to get restless.
I putter a lot, I think the only time I can sit quietly like that is when I am knitting or reading a book.
I'm glad you got a chance to enjoy some quiet time, it does seem like it shouldn't be so hard to find the quiet but it is, sometimes.
An incredible description of a perfect day. I totally could see, hear and even smell it through your words.
I love you !!!!! Diane
It sounds like you had a well deserved day of alone time. I live alone so I have all of the alone time I need to get by. I booked two one bedroom condos for when we go to Kauai next month so my daughter and her husband can have their own space and I mine.
Sorry though that things are still so quiet on the island. But overall it sounds like you had a really nice day.
Sounds nice. I now have Mondays off and my hubby is gone all week, so, Monday he leaves earlyyyy and I have a day to myself(kids are home)but I can tell them to go do something. On the weekends we are busy doing the heavy farm work that I need him to do so, no time, then of course the rest of the week was work and chores. Now, that I have Monday, I can do the things that I want to do.
What a nice post. My life is like that too. Because the whole family works together every single day, especially in summer, there is almost no alone time. I love to be with them, but once in a while, for just an hour or two, it is sweet to be all by myself. Sounds like you have an incredibly nice spot to enjoy your alone time.
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