Travel

I just got back from a twelve day trip to Scotland. We visited chefs and weavers and gin/whiskey makers. People who use the ingredients of their area to create something beautiful and delicious. We visited a garden in northwest Scotland that was created by Victorian plant hunters and brought back plants from North America, South America, and China. All the plants are thriving at the latitude of Alaska.

When I visit a place, I wonder if I would like living there. What I learned when I was in Scotland is that I want to live like them. The people we met are a part of the place where they live. They create meals with ingredients from the area. They make cloth from wool grown on the land. They make whiskey from the peat that covers the landscape.

On the flight home I thought how can I live fully and completely in this place I call home. I live in the north woods by big water. I am surrounded by forests and farmland and Lake Michigan. When I first moved here I joined every organization I could find to meet people and to be part of the community. I’ve learned that I do not like going to meetings or being on boards or being in charge. I like making and writing and taking photos. I like sorting items to be sold to support a food pantry. I like keeping trails clear for hikers. I like supporting business owners who have become friends. I like game nights and golf.

Travel introduces one to new ways of living and it changes you. Will I go back to Scotland? In a heartbeat. But in the meantime, I will be a part of this landscape. I will create gardens that support wildlife. I will hike in the forest and swim in the lake. I will be a part of this place where I live.