In 2007, preparing for my wedding, I moved more than an hour north of the Seattle suburb I had been living and teaching in for the previous 5 years. This new home is out in the San Juan islands, a string of mountainous, tree-covered islands separating Washington state from Vancouver Island, home to Victoria, British Columbia.
As I slogged through rain to and from class in my first year at the University of Washington, I dreamed of living on an island; the lush palm trees, the sparkling turquoise water, the sugar-fine sand, the warm tropical breezes. All of this played front and center of my daydreams as I sat through class after class in soaking wet shoes with dripping hair.
Fast forward a decade, and I’m now living on an island, but it’s hardly the island I pictured during my treks across the UW campus. There are no palm trees, the beaches are rocky, and the water frigid on a good day. I’m beginning to see, however, that regardless of its physical locale and attributes, island living is a state of mind.
So, put on some Jimmy Buffett, blend yourself an umbrella drink, kick your feet up and join me in living on island time!
Cheers!
Jen
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