Words of Wisdom Magazine 1 | Page 25

the shore. the smell of the marsh and salt water cover the air. In the early morning, I take walks along the foggy beach, and the whole town is sleepy. I can feel the slight dampness from the air on my skin. There is not a person in sight.

Because I have spent multiple weeks on Saquish throughout my life, I have witnessed what it is like to live without electricity. Most of the houses on the peninsula are old and some don't even have running water. There are a few with small amounts of power and propane for heating water or cooking. The people on Saquish have adapted to life without electricity. In today's world it is very hard for people to do their everyday routine without electricity. Most people rely on things like their computer or phone for work related reasons, but people out on Saquish have no access to any of these things.

Even though many of the people around this area have enough money to live more luxuriously, there seems to be a certain pride in doing things simply. Sitting on the beach, you can watch fishermen and lobstermen collect their daily catch from the traps and nets. People dig for clams and have them at night for their family dinner.

Spending time in Saquish every summer gives me a chance to spend quality time with my friends and family. None of us have phones or TV or computers to distract us. Instead we do things like fishing, swimming, kayaking. Then at night we sit around a bonfire all, play cards, or learn magic tricks from my grandfather. This experience is important to me because I know that being involved and really being a part of these moments is special, even if it might not seem that eventful. Being in Saquish makes me feel like I'm living back in time. Usually people don't think of this as a good thing, but to me it has got its advantages.

Witnessing an entire community of people living without electricity, but enjoying life as fully as people with all of the modern conveniences, made a significant impact on me. Not having electricity took away a lot of the distractions of normal life and made it easier to appreciate the people and scenery around me. I'm already looking forward to next summer and another week spent unplugged on Saquish.