Last month, I was here with Louk, and we hiked the Northern half of La Gomera. This time, I’m here with Sabine and we have a car. It’s a little warmer, more sun. We are staying in La Playa de Santiago, on the South coast. From here, we’ve made trips to touristy Valle Gran Rey and sleepy Valle Hermoso. Yesterday, we also tried to reach a hammock called Tazo, to which only dirt roads lead. We didn’t quite make it to Tazo. Our little rental car got stranded at a river bedding in the middle of deserted fields. Not a soul in sight, farmhouses abandoned, terraces crumbling. We know people who have a holiday home there, but couldn’t find their location. The other day, we hiked and ran up a steep hill from Santiago. Exhilarating exercise, stunning scenery, and we were totally on our own.
I really like this island. A lot. La Gomera has beautiful nature, friendly people, good roads with little traffic. Not too many tourists – although this is not high season, but when will that be: July, August, Xmas? Of the places we have visited so far, Playa de Santiago appeals to me the most. While sitting under the ficus tree on the village square by the waterfront, I had a this A Good Place To Die experience. Overlooking the ocean, so vast one can see the arc of the globe, there was this realization of Spirit watching Creation. Awareness looking at manifestation of Awareness. Eternally resting, No Time. So sweet & beautiful & peaceful. Happy.
So, would I want to live here? When pondering this question, I suddenly notice that the notion of not working does not at all appeal to me. I like writing, I like earning money, I like contributing. Just wandering, walking around, sitting & chatting? Not so appealing. It seems that finding A Good Place To Die includes finding something useful to do for the next 30 years. I also want to share my life with others. So my vision includes these three elements: an inspiring location, doing something useful and sharing my life with loved ones. Rereading these last lines,I feel somewhat silly. Isn't that what we all want? This quest is becoming quite an enterprise.
