I’ve settled into rural life--maybe against my nature, but still possible, even comfortable, as it was very much my nurture. My home as much as I may have wished otherwise.
Isolated. The Bayfield peninsula is surrounded by big water on three sides. And the land that comprises it and the land south of it are not heavily populated either. Bayfield, LaPointe, and Corny have more retirees and summer homes than families. Washburn and Red Cliff could be growing slowly… “Approximately 84% of the land in [our] county is classified as forest land.” All this is to say, I rarely feel crowded. Even when the Ice Caves went viral, I thought it would bother me more than it did. Of course it was cool when we were the only ones. But even shared with hundreds, the ice stretches on forever. And happy people were sliding in and out of the caves like seals, and I couldn’t help but be happy too. We are spoiled with clean water, clean air, so many stars…. Quiet. Tourism brings in money and jobs and people from all around the country and world. For better or worse, most of these people come to see the beauty of this place, but don’t settle here. Job options are limited. As are hiring options. Come blueberry season, we could always use more employees to help with the harvest, And more people to buy ready-picked or pick-their-own. Options are limited. But it's not always a bad thing. There were the same forty kids in my graduating class. Would we have even all known each other if we were a class of 500? If we hadn't shared a classroom since kindergarten? Would I have formed friendships with kids from other schools, or in other grades? Like Kaite. If I had gone to a larger school, I likely would have had more options for Art and English classes. I also probably would never have played sports. And that would have been sad. Conversely, I faced the hard truth before moving home that it is very very unlikely there will ever be enough interested women athletes here to form a rugby team. Or a soccer team, even. And say there was, we’d have to travel real far to find another team to play against. But I still hold out hope for regular pick-up games in our hayfield. And you don’t need teammates to go for a run, ski, or paddle. Sometimes I even find a buddy to join me. :) This little pennisula on Lake Superior. It’s not as easy to travel to. Or from. But worth it, I now think.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsMagdalen Dale and Kaite Sweval grew up a layer apart, overlapping and paralleling. Belonging to the shores of Lake Superior and yet not quite belonging. Laughing and dreaming on the bench outside the ferry booth as Mag passed the time and Kaite chose her time. Left to explore as soon as they could. And then as adults returned home, perhaps to their surprise. But glad to have each other... ‘cause we know there is strength in the differences between us and comfort where we overlap. Archives
All
|