There are days when looking out across this water, watching geese, swans, a heron, moorhens and ducks, for hours – seeing how they interact, behave – is enough for me. There are days when I just want to stay here, floating, oblivious to the outside world, cocooned in my own peaceful existence. I read the news and I am left dismayed at the human race. I venture out and see angry faces rushing about and I long to return as quickly as I have left: to the water, to peace.
But then there are days where my heart is fitful, my mind busy and my dreams so much bigger than this small pocket of life. These are the days when I battle with myself, fighting to steady this restless heart. Some days I win. Some days I close my eyes, tip my face towards the sun, listen to the birds as they begin their journey into Spring and realise how lucky I am to have found this space, this time. But some days the longing is just too much; to reach out and touch a different night sky, to run my fingers through a different grass, to feel the heartbeat of another land. This is my restless travelling self and she cannot be ignored, no matter how hard I try.
It seems that time has come again, a time where I must be brave and venture out to new pastures for a while and although at times I feel fearful, I comfort myself that this is all the same earth and wherever I may be, I am still always where I was. I remind myself that it’s OK to not be static, to not know where you might be in five years, ten years, twenty years. For life is short, and it should be beautiful, and we must each live it in the best way we know how, never failing to see that beauty.
And this is my way.
In a few weeks I will go to meet others enjoying their own small pockets of space on this earth, to a place I hope will nourish my travelling hunger and yet keep me close to what I know. I wonder; how long will I stay? I wonder; will the water call me home? Of course it will, eventually, but for a while I am just looking forward to a new adventure volunteering on a beautiful farm in the mountains of Italy.
12 comments:
Maybe you can find a balance of regularly going off on adventures to satisfy your spirit but always coming back to your peaceful cocoon (boat!) Plenty of people have jobs that mean they have to go away regularly; you just have a soul that demands it! ;-)
Have fun in Italy Alice; sounds lovely. xxx
Hi Alice...your life on the water sounds so lovely but I know where you are coming from as I too have Spring restlessness..sometimes an adventure is needed to make life rich, so I hope you have a wonderful time:)
Sounds awesome! Have a great time. Sometimes I like to sit by the beach, sometimes I like to walk in the hills, sometimes I like to play guitar. Maybe your likes are just further apart :-)
Safe travels!
Yes Peggy - maybe that is the answer ;-) we shall see!
xxx
Life on the water is lovely Helen, but then - there are many lovely things still left to explore!!! ;-) Spring restlessness *sigh*
Thanks PA :-) That's it indeed... but then, not that far really ;-) Hope you are still enjoying your experience!
Hello Alice, wishing you a safe journey and a fabulous time in Italy, please let us know how you get on. I get what you mean about feeling ok with not knowing where you will be in 10 or 20 years time etc.
Dreamer xx
Thank you Dreamer - here's to living on the edge ;-) lol. Of course I will keep you updated... I'm also excited to know how things go for you in Portugal! xxx
When I was a racing driver a fellow driver always said that as far as life was concerned he wanted to arrive at the pearly gates on opposite lock with brakes full on, cigar in one hand and a glass of Scotch in the other.
Whatever it was and whatever he did he took life as a great adventure. It is, so let us all know how your great adventure goes Alice!
Thank you Peter - I absolutely agree! Life is an adventure and I am looking forward to this one... I also think it's good to put yourself out of your comfort zone sometimes and learn new things... although I truly have no doubt that my peaceful life on water will call me back again!
I was wondering when you'd get itchy feet again Alice!
When I was younger I used to think that everything in my life would be sorted by the time I was 30 - I'd have the nice house, good job and enough money to do anything I wanted. Now the thought of being that settled and sorted bores me rigid!
Have a great time in Italy, who knows where any of us will end up next :-)
ha ha Helen! yup, two years fairly static - not bad for me! I'm with you (although I never thought I would have everything sorted by the time I was 30!!!) - why not put ourselves out there open for new adventures? I'm certainly intrigued to see where life is going to take you next!
How exciting, I loved my wwoofing days, tho never done it with kids... what beautiful memories you are creating for your family!
Hi henrietta, we have done it as a family before, but this is the first time that my daughter will be at an age when she will be 'participating'... I am nervous and excited all in one and desperately hoping that it will indeed create beautiful memories *argh!*
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