Camping on Bumpkin Island & Books I’m Currently Reading

Last weekend my boyfriend, daughter, daughter’s best friend, and I went camping on Bumpkin Island, one of the islands in the Boston Harbor.  My boyfriend and I had camped on Bumpkin for the first time last August and had a wonderful time, so I booked another reservation for us through Reserve America back in February, as reservations can be made up to six months in advance and Saturday nights fill up quickly.

My daughter and her friend are also avid campers, and what I love about camping in the Harbor Islands is that it’s relatively easy to get to.  Yes, it’s a pain to carry all of our tents, sleeping bags, and other camping equipment on public transportation, but it’s well worth it once you get there.  We took the T to Long Wharf, then took a ferry to Georges Island, then a shuttle to Bumpkin Island and found a nice campsite right next to the beach.  For those looking for a respite from busy city life, I highly recommend making the trip out to the Harbor Islands, for camping or even just a relaxing day trip.  Although Boston’s skyline is visible from Bumpkin, once you’re out there, it’s not difficult at all to really feel away from the hussle and bussle of the city, and the fact that the camping is so primitive (no running water, electricity, etc.) really adds to the overall experience, in my opinion. 

In fact, on my Links page, I’ve listed the Harbor Islands as an ideal location for a mini retreat, and someday I would love to facilitate a group retreat on Bumpkin, Grape, or Lovells, the three islands that currently offer camping.  (I haven’t been to Grape Island yet, but my boyfriend and I will be camping there for one night in mid August and are looking forward to it!)

Speaking of retreats, I recently bought a copy of Jennifer Louden’s The Woman’s Retreat Book and started reading it while on Bumpkin.  Although I’m not very far into it yet, what I’ve read to date has really resonated with me, and the whole idea of being on retreat really appeals to me, in much the same way that Virginia Woolf’s notion of “a room of one’s own” resonates with me, as both a woman and a writer.  All of us need time and space to take care of ourselves and be nurtured and refreshed.  For most of my life I’ve been taught that this is selfish, that a woman should never put her own needs above those of her child, spouse, etc., but in fact, doing so helps one to become a better mother, wife, friend, artist, etc.  If we don’t carve out this time for ourselves, we become depleted, run down and burnt out.  I’ve been there, and I know many of you reading this have, too.

However, I also realize that many of you, like me, can’t afford to spend a lot of money traveling to fancy retreat centers, spas, resorts, etc.  Does this mean that retreats are out of the question for us?  No, absolutely not!  For instance, reserving a campsite on one of the Harbor Islands is extremely cheap, and the ferry tickets are reasonably priced, too.  You don’t have to travel far to reap the benefits of a retreat.  For those who prefer a real bed to sleeping outdoors on the ground, another option is to explore youth hostels (which, despite the name, are for people of any age, not just young people).  In August, in addtion to camping with my boyfriend on Grape Island, I’ll be traveling alone to Nantucket and the Cape for two separate mini-retreats, both times staying at a Hostelling International youth hostel.

Another option – one which is currently being touted by Mayor Menino – is to vacation at home.  Why spend lots of money to travel to a different city and stay in hotels when you can turn your own home into a retreat and vacation in your own backyard?  Again, the key to a successful and nourishing retreat is not how much money you spend, but the intention behind it.  If you approach the experience with the right attitude and sense of reverence, there’s no reason why it can’t be spiritually and psychologically restorative, nourishing your body, mind, and soul.

Also, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve recently been laid off from my job, and my last day was Friday, June 20th (the first day of summer, which seems significant somehow).  Rather than be depressed by the loss of my job, I’m actually quite happy to be unemployed.  I’m going to miss having a steady paycheck, of course, but I’m looking forward to starting massage school at Cortiva in a few weeks and forging a new vocation for myself, one which is better suited to my interests and talents and will eventually allow me to be my own boss and have more freedom and flexibility in my life.

In fact, the other book which I’m currently reading is called Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love by Barbara Winter, which I highly recommend to anyone who’s tired of the rat race and wants to become “joyfully jobless” by creating a custom career for herself or himself.

I’ll write more about both of these books in future posts, as well as discuss in greater depth the concepts of retreat and vocation, which have been occupying my thoughts a lot lately during this time of transition.

P.S.  For those of you in the Boston area who are interested in Maggie Jackson’s new book, I just found out today that she’ll be discussing Distracted at the Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner at 7 pm on Thursday, July 17th.

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