The Minds of the Mutually Self Serving

I'm sure that when Orcas Island developed it's reputation for being such a wonderful place to grow up - it probably was. But something entirely different seems to be happening here now, and whether or not these things are occurring on the mainland isn't known to us here on the island, because . . . well, we're on an island.

While Orcas is definitely a place with an undeniable natural beauty, it is also has a strange draw to it, while at the same time - it creates a feeling that you just want to get away, but can't. The truth is, here on Orcas, boredom and desperation collide. The result is a vile and disgusting revelation of the minds of humans that are truly bored. Let's face it, this isn't Gilligan's Island. While we may have a similar combination of opinionated rich folks, the famous and selfishly materialistic, the educated thinkers, the hardworking rough-hands, and even simple-minded do-gooders, we all seem to share a mutual feeling of being stranded; yet, you just don't get the impression that everyone is working together - or even towards the same purpose. Let me rephrase that: It quickly becomes apparent that everyone DOES seem to be working towards exactly the same purpose: To serve "self".

Is There Nothing to Do on Orcas Island?

Tourists arrive on the island excited and ready for an adventure... But for those of us who live here, the general consensus is that there's nothing to do on Orcas Island. While many of the locals try to entertain themselves by saying that it all depends on what you enjoy doing, most people find themselves without much to do in the evenings, other than perhaps a meal out... And yet, the island offers all the indulgences one could seek, if they knew just where to look for such experiences.

There is simply no comparison between what people do in the big city, and what one could encounter on Orcas Island. There really isn't much to do on this island, except maybe the three things people do most often... Drink, do drugs, and have sex. Usually in that order. It's what so many people do with their winters, although none of it warms anyone up enough to stop complaining about the temperature.

To be quite honest, Orcas Island has many of the modern conveniences of most middle-American towns... You can go to the gym, get a tan or a beehive at the salon, play a few rounds of golf, have one of several beers on tap, join a local sewing circle, or whatever floats your boat. Which reminds me, there are plenty of boating enthusiasts, kayaking groups, and yacht clubs to join, as well.

For the kids, Orcas offers a movie theater playing a new movie every weekend - or sometimes even two. There are DVD rentals, the Fun House, roller skating on Saturdays, and of course - school sports. But there are a whole breed of kids who enjoy the dark side of the island. Trouble is something the kids of Orcas Island know all too well. If you get to know the kids of Orcas, you'll find a dark underworld of drinking, drugs, and random sex acts with anyone willing. By the time the teenage years are gone, so is their innocence.
Most of them have a healthy attitude about life on the island. They say there are the good kids, but the bad kids, it has been said, are really bad. The same could be said for the adults inhabiting the island, seeing as how there isn't much in the way of entertainment. But as they say, it's all about what you enjoy doing. Poker on Sundays or Thursdays, go see the current show at the performing arts center, or maybe just take a walk along one of the many local trails. There are a lot of beautiful places to go, and quite a few things to do here on the island. Just don't be too quick to let people in - for the walls hear and the floors talk. This sure isn't Vegas, so remember this: what happens on Orcas is everyone's business.

That's Life on Orcas Island

With an endless number of gorgeous views, beautiful inns, and stunningly irresistible photo opportunities, visitors flock from around the world to experience summers on Orcas Island. Although the winter, spring and fall months have an equally inspiring beauty, only a brave handful of locals call the island home all year long.

It's easy, once you're here for a while, to let the veil come down around, sheltering you from the very existence of the rest of the world. No fast food, no Walmart or chain restaurants. The streets are lined with an array of local restaurants and eccentric retail stores, and there isn't a single traffic light anywhere on the island. Many people come to the San Juan islands seeking an a pacific northwest paradise. Orcas Island offers just that. For those strong enough to endure the long, dark and rainy winters, the island becomes the type of place where every face is that of someone you know - and for me, it seems as though everybody knows my name.

I have the type of job that offers a steady stream of local traffic, and although I haven't been here long - I have heard the island referred to as many different things to different people. For some, it's the peace they had been seeking in their lives. Some call it Atlantis or Avalon. Others feel sucked into a vortex of boredom, depression or daily drinking, sometimes referring to the island as Orcatraz. Still to others, Orcas Island is a beautiful vacation island; a pacific northwest gem - where the forest meets the ocean, and the island views reach the setting sun.

One way or another, the island life seems to grow on you. The answer to every question seems to be, "That's life on the island." If you're here long enough, you begin to realize the island, along with it's inhabitants, seem to exist in a world of their own - a place few people are brave enough (or lucky enough) to experience island's true, year-round beauty. Those who do make to the lofty status of being a local also earn the right to call themselves an islander.

December Sunrise

These beautiful pictures were taken early on a crisp December morning, with several vantage points along the shore from Deer Harbor to Rosario, including views from both North Beach and Crescent Beach.

Eastsound View	Eastsound View
North Beach	View from Rosario
Frozen fountain at Rosario	View from Crescent Beach
View from Rosario	Towards Massacre Bay