31 May 2011

Everyone knew from the get-go that Nate would be happy as a pig in poo spending the summer secluded on an island. However, there has been some concern as to exactly how contented I would be in this situation.  As it’s the last day of the first week, coupled with the fact that I have not been here prior to our current adventure, I thought it may be interesting to close out week one with my thoughts, observations and few remarks.

Many followers of this blog are probably long standing Seguin loyalists like Nate, while many of you are possibly just as unfamiliar with the Island as I was when Nate first suggested we submit a keeper application. For those in the later group, I feel it necessary to point out a few things.  1) The lighthouse and the keepers quarters sit at the top of a 150 foot hill.  2) The only toilet that can be used with regularity is located at the bottom of the 150-foot hill.  3) There are extensive grounds that need to be mowed and raked every 3-4 days (this takes all day).  4) With the exception of space heaters, there’s no heat. With these considerations in mind, it’s easy to see why one might not be wholly pleased with a summer spent by the sea.

Needless to say, after a week of island living, my body hurts.  I heard somewhere that walking up a steep incline burns more calories than running on a flat surface. I believe it.  My legs and bum haven’t been this sore since field hockey pre-season in college.  The constant raking and mowing has done a number on my arms as well. However, here is the silver lining- I’m hoping all of this manual labor will result in a completely ripped Amy by the end of the summer. Here’s hoping- I mean really, how could it not? 

I came to the Island expecting these trials and tribulations, if not entirely prepared for them.  That said, my largest battle has not been with the expected, but with the unexpected (that Nate conveniently forgot to mention). The water here is a reddish brown and far from drinkable.  This poses two problems.  1) We need to carry all of our drinking, cooking, and tooth brushing water onto the island every week in six-gallon tubs. Did you know that a six-gallon tub of water weighs approximately 50 lbs? I didn’t. Have you ever tried to carry five six-gallons tubs of water up a steep incline? I haven’t either.  But I did carry one.   2) I am a not-so-natural blonde.  Did you know that a high concentration of iron in water will turn not-so-natural blondes, like myself, from pretty pretty blonde to rusty red?  In an effort to combat the inevitable ruin of my luscious locks, I have not been washing my hair. Gross I know, but the alternative is far worse in my opinion. I am currently bathing with a plastic bag over my head held in place with hair ties. Step next: obtain a shower cap. I can assure you that Nate is far from pleased with this development, but he can deal. He did say he hoped this summer would convert me to a lover of rustic living.

Minor qualms aside, it can’t get much better than Seguin.  We have settled in nicely, I am beating Nate at cribbage, if not Scrabble, and the weather is finally heating up.  So much so that Nate actually went swimming today. I think that was positively foolish. The North Atlantic is never warm, let alone in May.  However I did enjoy watching him and Puppy frolic and play in the water. I sat safely (and warmly) ashore with my book. 

The remainder of the evening will be spent listening to Nate pluck away at his mandolin (though if I have my way the metronome will be silenced in short order), and I will finish my book.  An excellent end to week one on Seguin.