The following misquote is not mine so I take no credit. I read these words in a book on lighthouses and their keepers once. "The first person you meet when you come to live on a light station is yourself, so you better like the company." I pass it along because it's so true. Living alone for extended periods with little company except your own thoughts can be illuminating - or maddening. It helps that I'm living in paradise and that my government has seen fit to employ me to take care of it. My island is a 22 acre park like piece of land off the west coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. near the town of Tofino. I have a front row seat for some of the most spectacular storm watching and whale watching offered anywhere.
After a lifetime as a city dweller, it's here I've come for the peace only a place like this can offer. While most who visit here marvel at the quiet, in reality a cacophony of sound bombards the senses. Waves crashing upon the rocks, wind howling through the magnificent Sitka Spruce, gulls and eagles crying, oyster catchers bleating, "Run away! Run away!" as natures predators near their nests, harbour seals barking from the reef.
Storm season fast approaches. Just a few days ago winds briefly reached hurricane force, whipping the sea into a churning frenzy. But today, nature has seen fit to let the sun shine and calm the waters enough to inspire this light keeper to do a little fishing. I know it's a rough life, but somebody's got to do it....