Ten Romantic Reasons for Living Out Beyond

By John McLachlan

In this post, I’ll cover ten things that some would say are “romantic” reasons of why I want to move to an island. In the next post, I’ll discuss more practical reasons. After that, I’ll write about the downsides that I see. I hope you’ll chime in.

Click on the title of each reason for more complete explanations. I’ll be posting them during August 2010.

Here goes:

1. I’ve always wanted to try it.
   Since I was a kid and I spent my summer holidays on the island I’m moving to, I’ve thought about what it would be like to live there. Irrational? Yes.
2. I only live once.
   Limiting myself to only living in the city when I want to experience living in the country makes no sense to me. I only have one life to live so what am I waiting for?
3. The idea of it scares me.
   This will seem strange to anyone who currently lives in the country, but there is an element of fear about what it will be like in late February on a west coast island after several months of grey weather and dampness. Will I be stir-crazy? Will I want to flee to Mexico? The point is, I’ll never know if I don’t try.
4. I want to breathe fresh air.
   I currently live in a city with quite clean air, but it’s still not going to be as fresh as on the island.
5. I want to smell natural things on a regular basis.
   I miss the smell of the sea air and the scent of plants growing. When we live downtown in a city, we miss so much.
6. I want to feel the weather.
   Being in a rural setting coupled with being on an island means the weather is always present and you are always aware of it. Hearing the wind blowing through the trees or the sound of rain on the Maples is so amazing.
7. I have always wanted my own house.
   Not only my own house, but one designed by an amazing architect whose work I admire.
8. I want to be more self-sufficient.
   It is our plan to have a garden and fruit trees and at least do some “looking after ourselves” even if it’s more fun than serious.
9. I want to have more “silence” in my life.
   Fact is, a city is noisy. Motorcycles, construction, parties, traffic, horns. It can be so quiet in a house in the country that you can hear the blood rushing in your head. (Ok, that could scare some people.)
10. It has always felt “right” to do this.
    I have always felt a connection to Hornby Island. I’ve been going there for 48 years and that past does have a hold on me which I wrote about in a song over 20 years ago. This sums it up:

“I hear a voice calling, see my spirit falling through time and space endlessly.

I feel my soul revealing, I taste that hidden feeling, oh Hornby you’ve got your hold again on me.”

Laugh at my naiveté. Call me out. Tell me I’m crazy, or sing along with me as I go on this journey.