A Place To Dwell
Last year I took a Deep Ecology course through the Northwest Earth Institute. At the beginning of the first class the mediator had us describe a place that our spirit would haunt or dwell when we die. It was a great way to introduce ourselves and bring nature into the conversation.
At the time, living in Oregon through the rainy winter, I really missed the snow, ice, and cold of Lake Superior. I decided to select a little-known sandy beach amongst the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. However, reflecting on the question now, I would pick a new location.
Oswald West State Park on the Oregon coast is where I would like my spirit to roam. Why? A few reasons;
*The scenery is breathtaking. Old growth, lovely ocean cove, waterfall, an impressive cape, wooden hiking bridges, tidepools, a small coastal mountain, rocky cliffs...I could go on.
Sorry these pics aren't mine, I found them online. I couldn't dig up any that I took of Oswald West.*The location has special meaning for Moh and I.
*It's a protected park. No fear of a Condo being placed on my turf.
*There are places to seek solitude, but also places to observe families, surfers, and people enjoying nature (In case I got a bit lonely). I could also use my haunting powers to those inclined to litter or vandalise. Put a little fear of God into 'em.
*Awesome sunsets.
*The rain wouldn't bother me as a spirit.
*I'm sure the other spirits that chose this location would have similar values-kindred spirits.
*Dogs are allowed (not like National Parks).
*Beach fires. What's more comforting than a driftwood fire on the ocean?
*I'm sure there are more reasons, but these are convincing enough.
So, just out of curiosity, if you were posed with the question of Where would our spirit dwell after your death, where would you choose?
Labels: Random Thoughts, Travel
posted by BurdockBoy @ 11:10 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Where ever my children are.
What a beautiful place! I really like this post, and the question you posed. Of course, I can't answer it, but I can tell you a few beautiful places that I love to be: Blue Ridge Mountains/Shenandoah National Park; Marin County, CA beaches such as Stinson Beach; Bodega Bay, CA (the setting for The Birds; Northern CA counties and coastline, such as Mendocino and Humboldt counties; Berkeley and Oakland Hills, CA; Manhattan/NYC; San Francisco; Far West Texas; Texas Panhandle; the American South; the park in Maryland where my wedding was held! (That's just a few of many).
Phelen:
I guess I would also feel an attatchment to want to be where my loved ones are.
m:
I have been to the Blue Ridge Mountains once- It was in Transylvania County. I was amazed at how beautiful it was, more impressive to me than Smoky MTN NTL Park (too many people).
I have plenty of locations that I love as well. I just thought, if I really had to choose one place, where would I feel comfortable. Oswald is where I cme up with. Of cours next spring it may be different.
Crater Lake
I've been to Oregon only once sometime in the early 90's. It is absolutely beautiful. We drove up the coast to Seattle for a couple days, the drive was magnificent. We went to Crater Lake and the Dunes and some place I thought was called Devil's Elbow on the coast. It sounds like what you describe. I remember almost getting stuck out on some rocks when the tide all of a sudden came in. I love the whole Northwest. I've been to Montana, mostly the Missoula area, a bunch of times. Glacier National Park is incredible too.
Here's a link to my post about getting to Oregon. Sorry about the format, new blogger screwed up all my old posts.
Three's a charm. ;)
Check out this other crater lake I just stumbled upon.
Beautiful place and fabulous choice. I'll need to ponder where I would like to be. I love the pictures.
Toby:
Of all of the travelling I've done in Oregon, I never made it to Crater Lake, cool pics by he way. I never have heard of Devils Elbow, but I've only been on the south coast of Oregon once. I used to go to Devil's Punchbowl just north of Newport. Those tide pools are dangerous. Up in Cannon Beach tourists were always getting stuck on Haystack Rock.
I got good chuckle off of your journey to Oregon story.
Speaking of Missoula, I may be taking a trip out there next month. I love that place. I've contemplated moving there a few times.
Carla:
I would love to hear your place-being so well-traveled and all.
Another one of my top picks for dwelling is up in your neck of the woods near Kaslo.
Funny about my trip to Crater Lake. We drove from Eugene, it's a couple hours I think and on our way home, just after leaving the park I realized we had no gas. This was Novemeber and there is nothing open that time of year. We finally found a resort that was closed, but luckily the owner lives there year round. He sold us gas for $1.65 a gallon. I thought it was rip off. I think we were paying $1.05 at that time. Good for me I rented a 3 cylinder Diatsu (sp?) that got like 60 MPG.
The place on the coast I went to was pretty much straight West of Eugene, maybe a little South. My buddy who lived there at the time said the light house on the hill is the most photographed light house in the world. He's the same one who told me the park was called Devil's Elbow. I'm beginning to think he was selling me land. LOL
My buddy E.J. is something else. I haven't seen him in a few years, but I'm sure his character as I remember it is still intact.
I thought about moving to Missoula a few times myself, but there is little work out there. One time while on vacation, my friend's boss (who is from the rice lake area btw) asked me if I would run a printing press while there for the week. He'd pay me cash. I was on vacation, I turned it down. He told me I always have a job if I were to move there and when I was most serious about it, he told me didn't need me.
Now I'm stuck here, I'm too old to start over with the job thing. After I retire, which will be in 14 to 24 years I do plan on moving out west.
Hello. Great post, just as many of your have been that I have read and not commented on. Its good to meet you at last!
The Deep Ecology sounds fascinating. Id's be intrigued to hear more about your experiences during the course. And what a beautiful location!
Interesting question you pose...
There are so many places where I might want my spirit to dwell...
I think I would want the freedom to fly from place to place. Those places that had had special significance...
Being limited to one place seems strangely melancholy. Like incarceration. I'd like to be free as a bird...
Barnes:
Thank you for making your presence know. I have also been a passive observer to your writings.
I have done a lot of reading and reflecting on deep ecology both for leisure and college credit. A post on the subject is long overdue...
I'm sure we all hope for freedom in our afterlife.
Sorry, but I have to keep my spot a secret. It is a very, very special place. I hope to spend more of this lifetime there as well...so there's no use calling attention to it. I like things quiet.
;)
T.Fool
Understood. A true spot of ones own is best kept secret. I wish you many happy moments there.
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