A Place To Die – Why

This is my first day on La Gomera. Yesterday, I arrived here with Louk, after a journey by plane and trimaran speedferry. While waiting for the ferry in Tenerife harbor, we had supper in Maria’s place. Maria is a runner for one of the waterfront restaurants. She’s from Montevideo, in her thirties and quite charming. When I comment that she obviously likes her job, she laughs and says: “See that small restaurant over there? That’s my dream. The present owners are not doing a good job; their focus is on the bigger restaurant next door, which they also own. Me, I would give that small place all my attention, and make it a success. It’s on a great spot. It’s the ideal place for me.” Another person with a dream about a place, but she’s has her goal in sight…

Today we hiked. At first I was afraid that I couldn’t keep up with two experienced hikers, but that turned out fine. We hiked for about four hours, with short breaks. Ate our bread and cheese and sausage, drank our water. And we chatted. About my quest for A Place to Die - among other things. Melanie’s first reaction to my work title was typical of many first reactions: “Are you planning to die soon, why not calling it a place to grow old?” Good question. I like to reference to A good Day To Die – something a wise old Indian says in ‘Little Big Man’. No, I don’t want to die soon, maybe not for another 30 years if I have my father’s genes. Yes, I’m looking for a place to grow old in, or be old in. A place that I can love, where I will really feel at home – and I do not know that place yet. The dying aspect is interesting, I feel about death a certain way, have some ideas about it I would like to share. Things like that make this blog and this book interesting.

What else? I see this project as an enterprise.  I am inviting my readers – three so far, I believe – to share their ideas and their dreams. What does your dream place look like? Have you ever seen a place that looks like my description of A Good Place to Die? Would you like to join me and travel together to go find my dream house - or yours? Do you have any idea where to look, or where to go and start looking?