Mainely Wonderful!
Maine has been wonderfully relaxing and refreshing, although our time up here has not been without problems.
We arrived late Monday night to our lovely little cottage by the sea, only to find this huge tree blocking entrance to our front door. Now, we had known a tree had taken down a power line and we had that repaired before our arrival; however, no one thought to tell us how badly the tree was blocking the house.
The power to the house was (and is) on so we did have electricity but the fallen tree had also taken out our DSL and phone lines so Les and I (two people dependent upon the Internet if there ever were two!) have been without Internet service for the last several days. Furthermore, we found out just today that they are not able to have DSL restored until after we have to return to Boston.
So, right now, I am sitting in Denny’s restaurant in Ellsworth, Maine, which is the nearest town—but nearly 30 miles from our house on the coast. I needed to submit my final grades—and I wanted to keep all my lovely readers up on the vicissitudes of Melindaville. I apologize for not having a podcast for this entry—but it is far too noisy at Denny’s to do a recording here.
So what do you do when life throws you a curve ball? My advice is that one needs to go ZEN. Les subscribes to this same philosophy, which is just one more way that we are hugely compatible. When you travel as much as we do and are at the mercy of weather, mechanical, and (occasionally) airline personnel incompetence, you have to learn to go Zen—because if you don’t, you will be miserable too much of the time!
I will say that I really love it here—even without power and without Internet. Besides—not having Internet is not the worst thing in the world, right? It is a good reminder that not only can life can be lived without technology—but also that life can be pretty wonderful without it. I am enjoying watching the tides come in and out on our back porch, feeling the absolute stillness of the surrounding forest, and seeing the startling number of stars under the clear night sky.
Speaking of which, I am finishing up here at Denny’s and will head back to my cottage by the sea and enjoy all the non-technological gifts that life has to offer.
Peace,
Melinda
Categories: Living in the Moment,Happiness,Self,Relaxing,Gratitude
Tags: seaside relaxing going Zen Maine vacationing loss of technology
Melinda -
It sounds like you are having a full Walden experience: the return to nature, the abandonment of accoutrements of modern society, the quiet. I have experienced something similar visiting relations in Norway, minus the tree falling. These experiences were always refreshing, particularly going to sleep to the sound of falling rain, and knowing there wasn't another soul for miles around.
I hope that your adventure returns you back to the hustle and bustle of normal life just as reinvigorated. Based upon your post, I am sure it will.
All the best, GC
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GC,
We most certainly are having a full Walden experience--and it is very enjoyable. I really do love Thoreau's belief that "Our lives are frittered away by detail--simplifly, simplify!
I am sure that I will be fully refreshed and recharged upon my return.
Melinda
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Its funny, if the internet is available I "have" to have it... but if its not (like when I spent five weeks in the wilds of Thailand) I'm quite happy without it.
So I get your dependency and I feel your pain!
Hope it all gets sorted out soon, but not too soon - might as well enjoy the natural world around you. From that pic on a recent post, it looks magical!
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Hi Svasti,
Well, you know--it really has been "Mainely" wonderful to not have the Internet--it's been good for me and for Les as well, as we are two people who can use a reminder that life needs to be slowed down from time to time.
I am looking forward to better access in my return to Boston so I can do some of the online things I enjoy (like visiting blogs--such as yours!).
Thanks for stopping by!
Melinda
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Hi Melinda
I'm sorry about the tree. That sucks, no internet. We too, depend on the internet 24/7/365. I get all worked up, when I don't have the internet.
It must be nice in Maine. For some reason, when I think of Maine, I think of the ocean on a gloomy day, and a light house. Curled up on the porch of a water front house with a cup of coffee....lol
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Hi Sheila,
Actually, your vision of Maine is appropriate. The Maine beaches are not ones suited for swimming--at least not far up the coast where we are. Lots of rocky coastline--and crashing waves. I love it so much.
It was both good and bad to be without the Internet. I'm glad to be back with it now!!
I have some blog/internet catching up to do!
Melinda
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Ahhhhhhhhh...no interneeeeeeet. Nice.
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Hi Mongolian Girl--it was nice--extremely nice, actually. It's good for me to be without technology from time to time. It helps to get back to the basics.
Melinda
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truly, a cottage by the sea, (tree and all!) in Maine no less, sounds completely divine as we endure 100 degree temps in oklahoma.
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Hi Jen,
I am truly blessed my friend--and I never forget it. Maine is truly beautiful, calming and peaceful.
Melinda
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Time away from the internet can be highly therapeutic...and very nice...when it's intentional...
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Hi Jay,
I agree--when it is planned, absence of technology is wonderful--and even necessary, I'd say. We don't have television (although we have a TV set that we watch movies with). Les and I spend lots of time reading, relaxing, hiking in the woods, and enjoying the water. Up until last summer, we had never had Internet in Maine--at least not high speed internet, so we knew what to expect when we went up there. However, last summer, Verizon finally ran DSL lines to our very remote home on its private road, which we were so excited about and enjoyed having up there last summer.
But it was actually great to not have Internet this time--once I got used to the idea that I would need to go into town a couple of times to open an exam for a student and submit my final grades.
Thanks for stopping by!
Melinda
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I was going to ask about your internet access, but then I see your tweet (oh, I must get used to this new technology) -- you're back in Boston. I hope you enjoyed a respite from technology. I think I would. If forced.
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Hi Jennifer!
I must say--even though it was really nice to not worry about computer stuff for a few days, I am actually glad to be back in Boston with full (very high speed) access.
It's strange how high speed has changed my tolerance. I tried signing on (once) on the dial-up connection and then gave up. How'd we do it back in the day? (of course--then web pages were simpler, not as bloated and didn't take as long to load--but still!).
I'm going to be coming round at some point today or tomorrow to catch up with you--I have a lot of catching up to do this week!
Melinda
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This is such a lyrical and sweet post, Melinda. I think it's a blessing that you have been shut down, as it's food for thought for all of us concerning our reliance/dependence on the Internet.
It wasn't until I read this that I remembered dreaming the other night (maybe last night) about the most wondrous star-filled sky, a breathtaking one in the middle of nowhere. I'm grateful to you for the key back to it.
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Thanks so much, Lydia--I am glad I could provide you a reprieve where you could enjoy the wonders of a starry night sky. There's really nothing like it. One of my favorite paintings is Starry Starry Night by Van Gogh--and the Maine sky really reminds me of that painting.
Melinda
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Nothing is better than running into the unexpected and being thrown off guard by life. In fact life can hardly be called living without that. You have to be deprived of your "necessities" to realize you don't really "need" them. Then when you return to them it's with an invigorated sense of freedom, knowing it's something you choose-not have-to do.
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Hey, N.P.!
I have to say--I beg to differ with your avatar's screen name--as that was absolutely profound!
And I do agree--entirely.
Melinda
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A rustic setting on the Maine coast sounds terribly romantic and I am sure it has its moments but losing power and being forced to work at Denny's, I feel sure, is not one of them. In my fantasy of having a little beach house I can tell you that the power never goes out and trees never fall. Next time I have the cabin fantasy I will remember to include not having access the internet and see if it all feels so perfect. See, I am not Zen.
Hope you got power restored and if you didn't that you are enjoying the Zen of it.
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Oh, I wasn't working at Denny's--I was just there using their free WiFi
I truly did enjoy my non-tech week in Maine--and in fact, I think we should get rid of the DSL there altogether (well, maybe not--hee hee).
Thanks for stopping by!
Melinda
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I can totally relate to this. I have a cabin in a very rural location on the west coast of British Columbia. While people still have a hard time finding it, satellite service does not.
It can be both a blessing and a curse to access the internet in these special places. On the one hand, we can write about the place and share its magic; on the other hand, we can miss the magic if we let the internet lure us away for too long. Your resourceful 30 mile drive to a Denny's with WiFi is followed with a retreat into the natural beach and forest. Each has a way of complimenting the other, creating a kind of balance that seems to fit in the natural order of things. Great little post. Did you happen to ask the universe for some firewood?
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Hi Cindy,
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I agree it is a conundrum--and I have to admit that I still want them to restore the DSL--I do love being able to access the Internet. However, the experience made me realize that I shold focus more on nature while up there--and not to spend too much time online.
And yes--the fallen tree provided us with some great firewood! My husband took a chainsaw to it and chopped it all up. It was chilly enough at night so that we really enjoyed the fire.
Melinda
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