Aging

As I turn 32 today and with the sight of my first gray hair I've been thinking a lot about aging. I have no problem with getting older and I welcome it but there is something strange about aging.

Why do we hold on to our youth? Is it the fear of letting go and leaving something behind? Leaving behind childhood, adolescence, the first years of living on your own and making your own way in the world. These are all different stages that I look back upon with fondness. I look at the fun I've had, the lessons I've learned, and the experiences that have shaped who I am. I look back and appreciate where I've been and who I've become but I can no longer hold on to those times. I now look forward and see that my life is only just beginning and in another 30 years I'll look back and see how these days helped me to become the person I will be. This is just a small stop in my life and I'm here to learn but I must also keep moving in the direction that I'm headed. Where is that? Well I guess I'll know when I get there :)

Eleuthera, Bahamas

My first impression of Eleuthera,

When I arrived on the island of Eleuthera I was surprised to see an arid, rocky landscape different than the tropical oasis that I had imagined. I couldn't believe that the island was so unsustainable. The island is composed primarily of limestone and coral with not more than an inch of soil on top.

Farming seemed to be difficult because of the lack of freshwater yet there were a few places to get fresh produce. The diet of most islanders consists of seafood and canned goods. Amidst the scarcity of food and arid landscape I found the most friendly and communal people I've ever met. The areas I stayed in (outside of Gregory Town) was inhabited by locals (Bahamians) and Americans/Europeans escaping the harsh winter back home While many of these "foreigners" only live in the Bahamas during part of the year they are all treated as locals. The communal spirit between Bahamians and Foreigners was a sight to see. Everyone seemed to know each other and treat each other with the utmost respect and sincerity.


The Bahamians' freedom from constrictive regulations regarding building construction allows for the building of unique self-made houses. Imagine being able to build your own home from scratch! The arid environment and lack of natural resources have a positive effect on building practices and promotes the use of rain gutters and solar energy. All of these things made me appreciate the spirit of the residents even more and their attitude was infectious.

After admiring the way the community functioned I had to step back to stop analyzing things and just enjoy my vacation. The daytime was filled with exploring many of Eleuthera's uninhabited beaches. (BTW all the beaches remain public property in the Bahamas and no one can own them!!!!) The variety of beaches was incredible. On one side of the island is the Atlantic Ocean which is a little rougher than the Carribean side which is calmer and more glass-like. I spent endless days relaxing and admiring all the natural beauty that is Eleuthera. My spirit became calm and my mind became clear. I realized that life is made up of a series of moments like this...moments when you stop thinking and talking and just be. Everything in life seemed to be perfect and I suddenly knew that for the rest of my life I'd be ok.



This was one of the most relaxing and wonderful vacations I've ever been on and it wouldn't have been the same without two of my favorite travel buddies Sarah and Jason. Thanks for the great time :)