On our way here we took a small detour on the boardwalk to a cabin that had a “for sale” sign. The cedar cabin was 500 ft. with a loft bed. Looking through the windows it was the most basic of dwellings but as I sat here at this alpine lake in this gorgeous, tranquil part of the world my mind began to run figures through my head: how much down, how much per month, how I needed to find better cell coverage out here for emergencies, how I would need to become a pilot and have my own sea plane for transportation…stop laughing, I know it sounds funny. But in my head there was serious consideration going on for what I would have to do to buy this cabin and never leave. I have not had cell phone service since arriving in Ketchikan and the separation from the outside world has been most welcome. I am not absent-mindedly surfing Facebook and I have no clue what is happening with politics and the election right now. And this is a GOOD THING. We all need an experience like this – to escape a bit of our current world and get lost in the moment. How often do we, as a collective society, ever just stop and sit – without worrying about getting back to the house, or returning to our office, or whatever “important” task is waiting to monopolize our time.
This portion of the blog/trip was about me, an Administrative Assistant at NW Explorations who is this great charter company who sent me on this life-altering trip, getting to experience first-hand what our clients experience. I imagined learning a bit more about boating (I never tied a line before this trip), seeing new places I could stick a pin in on my world map at home, and of course – getting to know clients I had only known through emails setting up their trip. I would have a better taste of the experience and thus, a better understanding when I helped with the logistics and explanations of destinations to our clients. It has actually become something so much more personal. When you sit on the bow of a yacht in the early morning in remote Alaska, or sit on the flybridge crossing a large strait with only mountains and the sea surrounding you – your perspective changes. You see just how small our problems are, how trivial our arguments are, how silly our worries can be. It is the simple act of knowing oneself, shedding all assumptions about people and truly listening to one another. What you do in the “real world” doesn’t exist here, it doesn’t color who you are in relation to everyone else. We are all here – as individuals – experiencing something that humbles each and every one of us. It creates lasting memories…the first sight of a humpback or bear sears into your memory better than any photograph. In the silent moments, in the grandeur of nature…you find yourself here in Alaska. The pace of life is different and we all know that what we are experiencing together is something unique. And so, we all become a floating family – sharing stories, playfully jesting with one another (Noel – you are too quick on the quips for me!), inviting each other over for cocktails or dinner, sharing childhood memories – it is an experience that is hard to put into words. You have this amazing experience personally, uniquely – yet also build something with people you have never met before but quickly become a part of this chapter in your life.
In wonderment…Christina on Deception signing off.
