Third Day on Orcas
Yesterday, we explored the west side of Orcas Island. Then last night, I awoke at midnight to a full moon (well, just past full) illuminating East Sound. That sight kept me awake and watchful for two hours in the middle of the night. At left is the view from our back door – although it changes frequently in the shifting light and mists. Friends Jim and Ken offered their home up last October and I find it unbelievable to actually be here. I can never thank them enough for making this trip possible.
All over the island there is original, whimsical signage. Though the practice sometimes makes it tricky to find the specific address you are looking for, the effect is just charming. In fact, to have spent three days in a place where I haven’t seen one single franchise or chain restaurant or big box store just feels like the way things were when I was little, and provides a solid sense of place. At right is one of these signs, which serves as the address marker at a home near where we’re staying.
Comment // May 31st, 2007 // 2:29 pm
Katie,
One day, bored at work I was doing a little “Googling” on my favorite subject, “Orcas Island”, when I came across your Blog “Loosely Speaking”. There is one entry I found most interesting; Monday, March 28, 2005, “Third Day on Orcas”. As I read through the entry I saw the photo and said “Hey that is the view from MY back door on Orcas”. Reading further you mentioned Ken and Jim (Orcas Island home owners) let you stay at their Orcas home. Then I realized it IS my view. My wife and I bought Jim and Ken’s place on Orcas Island last July. After looking for the perfect home on Orcas for several years we knew Jim and Ken’s home was the perfect spot the moment we walked in. My wife Teresa and I presently live in Placitas, NM and only make it out to Orcas every few months. Unfortunately we still have a thing called careers that interferes with life and our Orcas time.
Teresa and I never met Jim and Ken but I have spoken to them over the phone a few times and they seem very Orcas like. Our kind of people! Our Orcas home is a special place for us. Just knowing it is there gives us great joy. I am so glad you got to spend a comfortable, replenishing time there in the past. If the need is there again maybe you should give us a call. My wife (The big time knitter) mentioned anyone who loves to knit is a good soul. I say anyone that love baseball, dogs and coffee is welcomed in my home anytime.
Jim Helminski
Pingback // May 31st, 2007 // 2:42 pm
[...] Edited 5/31/07 – Talk about timing is everything! Shortly after posting this, I received a comment on an older post from 2005 that confirms for me that we humans seek out others who like what we like. Read that here. [...]
Comment // May 31st, 2007 // 2:45 pm
Hey Jim, that’s an unbelievable coincidence. Thank you so much for writing to tell me that you discovered that I had been sleeping at your house, so to speak!
I hope someday I can return to that area and one of MY wildest dreams is to have a place to call home there as well.
Hope to meet you both someday in New Mexico or Orcas or somewhere in between! I sure did get a kick out of hearing from you!
ktcosmos (aka Katie)
Comment // June 15th, 2007 // 8:10 am
“I hope someday I can return to that area and one of MY wildest dreams is to have a place to call home there as well”.
Katie,
The “Wildest Dreamâ€? is how it all started for us. I am a believer in the Law of Attraction. You truly attract, and are simply what you think. We thought our way to a home on Orcas and the universe slowly, but timely lined up. Our simple, but comfortable home on Orcas is a very special, rejuvenating place for us.
Jim
Comment // June 15th, 2007 // 11:01 am
Hi Jim,
Don’t know how your comment got through as I’m been having server issues with my host all week, but just the fact that it DID get through is a great example of the unfolding of the Law of Attraction.
Originally, we met Ken and Jim (the former owners’s of Jim’s house for those who aren’t up on this conversation!) when they lived in Greer, Arizona, and were just launching their acclaimed Bed and Breakfast. The Red Setter Inn was actually still under construction when we stumbled upon it, and that place became our personal haven. My husband and I traveled there as many times as we could in the ten years Ken and Jim had operated the Inn, and those trips provided us with rejuvenation, magic and a growing friendship with the guys every time we were there.
When I visited Orcas, I felt the magic and now realize that Jim and Ken have everything to do with me discovering my favorite places of the last decade, since it’s places they’ve led me to that end up being so special.
I’m sure glad you wrote today – my youngest son just headed up to Washington State yesterday to play baseball in a summer collegiate leage in Wenatchee. I’ve been debating for several weeks on whether or not to plan a trip to Wenatchee with a visit to Orcas.
Think I’ve just made up my mind!
So glad to hear from you again, and hope you’re back in the San Juans sooner rather than later, too!
Katie
Comment // February 14th, 2009 // 8:38 am
Have you ever made it back to Orcas?
Comment // February 14th, 2009 // 9:11 am
No, I’ve been close to arranging a trip, but it hasn’t worked yet. My son is still playing college baseball, and I keep my fingers crossed that when he plays in that part of the country I would be able to just fly up there and hang out for a couple of days. Logistically AND financially, a little tricky.
Not out of my mind, though. And think of you often, if you can believe it. How about your visits and time up there? What’s been happening?
Comment // February 14th, 2009 // 5:52 pm
Life has changed much for me in the last year and 1/2. The Orcas House is still our life line get-away! We moved from New Mexico to Washington DC. I don’t know if I mentioned to you but I am a 20 yr veteran of the Secret Service. I was Joe Biden’s Detail Leader through the campaign and will be one of the primary supervisors on his detail starting in the next few weeks. So it has curtailed out trips to Orcas, but we are planning on a trip in March /April. The house has sat empty for some time now and has been hit by TWO trees in bad storms, obviously costing a few bucks to repair.
I would love to find someone that would like to do a little home exchange east coast to west coast so the house can get some use and we can get some easy get away time with our dog. There is a lot of good Karma from the island and that house especially.
Jim
Comment // March 27th, 2009 // 6:04 pm
ORCAS April 18th YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment // March 28th, 2009 // 8:23 am
How long are you staying?
I was trying to see if I could swing a quick trip up to the area to watch some Wildcat baseball, but am thinking it may be a tad out of reach just now…
Comment // March 28th, 2009 // 2:02 pm
Staying for just a week but have plans to return several times this summer. I have been on the road way too much the past year and really looking for a break.