Where does the time go?

We've been on Gabriola for a month now. What??!!! It's just not possible. Now I'm stressed - too much to do, not enough time.

People say: "Isn't that nice you have a two month vacation on Gabriola." I don't mean to sound ungrateful - it's true we have time for the beach and to chill with friends, it's definitely not a rat race. Nevertheless, I can't believe how busy we get, and how much stuff there is to get done here! Between working on our land - cleaning, clearing, fixing, dealing with raccoon in our outside kitchen, planning and executing our improvement projects for the year, planning promoting and performing music gigs, dealing with family stuff all over the place, hosting friends and visitors, and assisting Amy with her workload, it's not vacation - it's living!

This morning we said goodbye to Alan and Iris who visited us from Toronto for the past few days. A wonderful time was had by all! A great visit, and we even composed a song together last night after a little bit of wine and general merriment - Iris was on her game: "I can do what I can do!" I hope we can remember the rest! It's a classic!

Last year's big project was installing a well - boy is that a miracle to have fresh clean water coming from the ground on our land! Especially on Gabriola where water can be scarce - we are very fortunate!

This year's main project is what I call "The Hot Water Pavilion". We are getting ready to build a gazebo kind of structure that will hold a hot water tank, shower area, sink washing area and maybe a washer/dryer (maybe just a washer). The trenches are dug, the area is cleared, a preliminary exterior design has been done, and tomorrow we will start to build the deck. A friend of Josh's from Nanaimo will be the expert, and Amy and I will assist. Once we have hot water, I think we will be complete! Here's a picture of the trench and clearing for the structure:














I performed on Thursday night at The Roxy, an intimate (40 seater) concert/movie theatre space here on Gabriola. Son Josh rocked on the bass, a drummer from Nanaimo Paul Nixon, then a couple of Gabriola locals Brad Shipley on guitar, mandolin and vocals and Tami Blazer on vocals completed the group. We had a very nice turnout of over 35 folks! It was really a great night, everyone was cooking, and the audience was wonderful. I will perform again in Nanaimo at The Red Room on Aug. 6, do a short solo set at the Gabriola Salmon BBQ on Aug. 7, then a casual perforance at Razzberry's Jazz Cafe (thanks for the invite Roger!) on Sunday Aug. 8 from 2-4. I also played a couple of gigs with good friend Frank Patrick, one at the Roxy and one at The Garage Showroom in Duncan. So there's been a lot of musical activity! And of course the above does not include time of playing and creating.

On Wednesday we will take our annual road trip to another area. This year's itinerary will take us to the interior - Nelson B.C. in the Kootenay Valley. Amy has never been there, I haven't been back in over 30 years, and our daughter Lindsay is living there currently. We are looking forward to a beautiful ride and a good visit.

So all is well and exciting and beautiful - this place is too wonderful! We want to be here more! Maybe next year we'll come out late spring and plant a proper garden! For now, I am sitting here at our outside dining room table, listening to the sea wind moving the trees, and enjoying the peaceful quiet of a truly natural surrounding. Here's a couple of more pictures of where I am:

We arrived on Gabriola on Sunday evening and have been slowly cleaning clearing fixing and organizing our land. It's so great to be back. On Monday I sat with my guitar playing for the trees and a robin who seems to peacefully coexist in our little (unplanted) flower garden. A song popped out "I wanna go back to the island, I wanna go back to my home, I wanna go back to the island, where my soul belongs." Kind of a chant, with verses to come. Simple, easy, good feeling - that's how the island inspires me.

So where is your island? Is it even a place, or more of a space? I suppose I can find it everywhere, but it is difficult to stay in touch with that space while struggling to navigate life, especially in the city. So for me, getting to nature and quiet and beauty puts me back in that space, and heals me.

I was thinking about this place- Gabriola - and Kawagama. Both are islands, both are rich in personal history and growth for me, both create peace within me. What's different? Gabriola is an ocean island, and the Pacific has its own special strength. I can sense the tides rising and falling, and the power of vastness. I can look and see a white-capped Mount Baker 60 miles away to the southeast, or I can round the corner of Drumbeg Park and see the snowy mountains north of Vancouver, and up the Sunshine Coast. So one difference is the vastness of this region. Another is the different wildlife and vegetation here. Eagles and seals and otters, lots of unknown birds (American Goldfinch?), owls and tons of deer wandering through. Some animal ate our almond butter in the middle of the night. How did he open the jar?? Must have been a raccoon, they are so sneaky! Gigantic ferns, shasta daisies growing wild, giant firs and cedars and oh yeah we also have a beautiful maple on our land! Arbutus trees, slugs, general wildness! The other day I walked through the woods to Drumbeg Beach around 6 pm, and saw no-one! A couple of boats and planes out there but not a soul was on the beach. I can't remember the last time I felt that alone with nature! Beautiful.

So here we are, enjoying our place here, seeing old friends and new, and waiting for real summer weather - it's been very cool so far, with some rain, but we understand it will warm up this next week. Stay tuned, and talk to me if you like!