For several summers now, it has been tradition for me to frequent a stretch of the St.Croix River numerous times on a friend's houseboat with friends and family. The houseboat is a great opportunity for everyone to spend time with one another away from the technology that so often consumes us in our average everyday. Activities often include jumping into the water from the top of the boat, swimming, exploring the nature of a small island down the river, and grilling out. However, the activities (or lack there of) ultimately achieve a sense of serenity and relaxation that sees no comparison. The trip is often times a full day activity, leaving early in the morning and staying out on the river until late at night. This allows me the rare opportunity to experience all different times of the day in an environment that is taken away from me in the suburbia that I live in.
The image to the right is a cliche image of a sunset taken in an environment removed from modern structure and technology. It is an image that we often see in photographs and paintings, but rarely get to experience and appreciate first hand in our everyday setting. Although other boats are often present, nature is the dominant force in this setting and the houseboat allows me the opportunity to ponder the features and creation of nature as well as provoke new and interesting thoughts. I often find myself in pursuit of a place that produces such sensations closer to home.
The natural environment that we vaguely encounter in our everyday is taken for granted until we are put in a space surrounded by a surplus of the same nature which represents the romantic structure of feeling. There are many cultures that emphasize the importance of nature in their everyday practices and take the time appreciate the beauty of nature daily. This appreciation and celebration of nature gets overlooked in the American culture, where city-scapes and industrial areas thrive. It isn't until we are removed from our urban environment that we can briefly understand the appreciation that other cultures have for nature and it's beauty.
This reminds me of the family vacation that we took every year when I was a child. We would spend a week in a family friend's cabin in the little Minnesota town of Sandstone. Our days were spent out in the lake swimming, fishing, and paddle boating. Our nights were spent making s'mores by the fire. Nothing was more peaceful and serene than this vacation. And the sunsets were gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI really like this post and it bring me back to my memory in a small countryside town. I got similar experience like you and I also went boating with my friends. It is really good to enjoy beautiful natural environment in suburbs rather than noisy in cities. I agree with you that this kind of celebration of nature gets overlookd in the American culture. People usually pay more attention to technology and modern culture structure. It makes me delighted that gradually some people realise the importance of natural environment and they decide to live back in suburbs.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. It reminds me of my experiences at my cabin. We bought our cabin when I was three and I've basically grown up there. The funny thing is my cabin is only 35 minutes away from my house. Although it's not far from where I spend my busy days, I feel absolutely secluded and hours away from my normal lifestyle. The lake, the sun, the breeze, family all together, and the memories make my cabin priceless. I love how its just a short distance away because there would be random days during the summer where my mom and I would grab our books and head to the cabin for the day and return home at night. It was wonderful and made me appreciate nature and the outdoors way more. I love the picture you provided because I can picture myself viewing that sunset and calmness on my boat. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love vacations like the one you described. They really give me a moment to think about my life and reflect. I guess daily life in the city is far too demanding and mentally we need breaks like these just to detach ourselves from the hustle of twenty different thoughts at once. Romantic thought is a bit dead for the 21st century because it is so difficult to get away! Maybe that's why businesses associated with finding tranquility (i.e. yoga classes, self-help books, meditative schools of thought) flourish so much; we're all looking for a piece of romance that can fit into our lives and yearn for more calm times.
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