One year later: My return to the Rock

Today marks my one year anniversary at my Winslow apartment. I thought I would take a look back on how my life has changed since moving back to the Island I grew up on.

Of course, I moved back here to be closer to my children. So far, that has worked out pretty well. I don't get to seem them a lot more, but when I have my opportunities, it is much easier to get there. When parent teacher conferences happen, I don't need to take the whole day off.

Also, I now have the unexpected visits, when I run into my kids in the stores, or on the sidewalks going somewhere. I see Jessica's friends sometimes, hanging out in Winslow. She likes to go hang out in Winslow when she is with me on weekends, and I don't mind, as long as I know where she is and who she is with. She has to be back home before dark. Jessica occasionally will meet a friend at the movie theater, which is about a block away.

Jessica has a new friend also, who lives right up the street, in fact, right behind the movie theater. Last weekend she went to her friends house for a sleep over. Her and her friend came over Sunday am for a swim in my pool.

Things haven't been quite that fun for Kelsey. She is too young to hang out in Winslow. I do let her walk down to the store, or to the vegetarian take out restaurant with her sister on occasion.

Kelsey loves the pool of course, but at times I think she misses having a yard to play in. The pool is only open from Memorial day to Labor day, and sometimes we have plans, and can't use the pool when they want too.

What has changed for me? Well, I can walk to work now. I hardly ever drive my car, so the rising gas prices have not affected me too bad yet. I have made some new friends in Winslow, and re-acquainted with some old friends.

My place is a bit of a fish bowl. It has almost no privacy. I was a bit shocked to hear a lady at the pool the other day talking about using the sauna. The sauna is directly under my living room and often times I am playing music loudly, or having friends over, talking loudly. I had no idea that anyone uses the sauna! The lady seems to like me, so I guess I haven't disturbed her too much!

I really like to garden, so this year I planted 14 containers full of flowers. I have had nice several comments from neighbors, so I guess I did a good job. Its the first time I really dove into container planting. While I am enjoying the rewards, its not nearly as satisfying as planting a row of Romaine lettuce, or growing some cherry tomatoes.

I eat out a lot more than when I lived in Suquamish. There are many restaurants within walking distance. Unfortunately, most are over priced and under par. The restaurants are full of rich people who you would think would know better. I wonder why these places stay in business sometimes. I think its more of a status thing for them, they go out and show off the new pearls, or new body enhancement, and then they buy a few bottles of wine I could never afford. After that, I imagine the food might not be so bad..

There is definitely a class issue on Bainbridge. Bainbridge used to be a working class community. We had several shipyards, a creosote plant, navy installations and navy housing, and a large farm community.

Now, there is only one shipyard, the Washington state ferry yard which only needs a limited staff. Any large work to the vessels is usually done at other shipyards in the state.

The creosote plant was shut down years ago and is now an EPA superfund site, making Eagle Harbor the most polluted harbor in Washington state! The creosote plant had many local workers.

The navy is completely gone now from the island. In its place are mansions. The navy housing up the street from me is scheduled for demolition, to make way for yet another mixed retail/housing complex. Retail on the bottom, overpriced condos on the top.

The farms have also vanished for the most part. There is one large farm still owned by Akio Suyematsu. I picked raspberrys on his farm when I was 13. He sold most of his land to the city, and the city has opened it up to individual farmers. Most "new" islanders would like the city to sell the land and build more mansions and condos.. sigh.

I consider myself the "counter culture" of Bainbridge, but really, I am more of a "legacy Islander". I didn't move here from California, and I don't work in a law firm.

All in all, being back on the island has been good for me. I like being close to work, I like not having to walk the garbage down the driveway every Tuesday night. I like sleeping an extra 30 minutes every day to still get to work by 8am.

What will happen in the next year? Well, I think I will most likely stay here. I would love to be able to move into one of the condos in my complex and out of my "fish bowl", but its considerably more money a month and not sure its worth the value. I'd like to move up the street to the Olympian condos, they also have a pool and offer three bedroom units. Again, cost will be a major factor. So, for now, I am ok where I am.

I think the only real loser in my move back is my poor truck. I only have one parking spot. My truck spent some time at my mothers, and now is at Kyle's, waiting for its next move.. anyone have room for a truck?