"Living On Island Time"

I would invite you to "just let go" of your schedules, agendas, and itineraries and allow yourselves to experience the joy of surrendering to "Island time".

Many years ago, I was enjoying a trip back from Isle Royale aboard the Ranger III ferry. One of the staff members was playing a guitar and singing to entertain the passengers. One of the songs that he sang, was an Isle Royale-themed rewrite of the Don Williams song, "Tulsa Time". The chorus went something like this:

Living on Island time.
Living on Island time.
Adjusting my pace
to this beautiful place.
Living on Island time.

I can't specifically remember the verses, but they spoke of adopting a relaxed and laid back approach to enjoying Isle Royale. I agree with that sentiment.

What Is Island Time?

I think that many people would each have their own definitions of "Island time". For me, "Island time" is a mindset or a "way of being".  It is completely (or nearly completely) surrendering your plans and your schedules to "whatever comes your way" on that particular day. "Living on Island time" can involve setting aside your timepieces and your schedules (and not worrying about rushing to get a shelter or a campsite). You consciously decide to accept the fact that you will "get there when you get there"--and you are content with that decision. Some people might call it choosing to "live in the moment". Sure, you might have a GOAL of getting to your next campsite by 3:00 p.m.--but stopping to watch otters play for 30 minutes easily becomes a new (and greater) priority than reaching camp by 3:00 p.m. That's living on Island time.

Do you have your Isle Royale meals strictly planned and "set in stone" (i.e. Monday evening WILL be spaghetti. Tuesday evening WILL be beef stew. Wednesday WILL be chili mac, etc.) -- or is there great flexibility in what you decide to eat? Many times, I blindly reach into my food bag--and just grab something and it becomes my meal.  If it is a dehydrated scrambled eggs skillet breakfast for Thursday's evening meal--so be it.  Chili Mac for Friday's breakfast? That's just fine too. It's called "Living on Island time".

While backpacking, if you start to feel weary and decide to stop at Daisy Farm--instead of pushing on to Moskey Basin as scheduled--that's living on Island time. Conversely, if you are you feeling great when you reach your intended stopping point for the day---and you decide to keep paddling for a few more hours-- that is also "living on Island time".

In the Disney movie, THE LION KING, Timon and Pumbaa perhaps would have referred to living on Island time as "Hakuna Matata".

Hakuna Matata!
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!

Forrest Gump and The Andy Griffith Show

Even though he (probably) never visited Isle Royale--the fictional character, Forrest Gump, seemed to understand the concept of "living on Island time".  Consider the immortal words of Forrest Gump:

That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.  When I got tired--I slept. When I got hungry--I ate.  When I had to go ---you know --I went.

Forrest Gump lived on Island time. He seemed to have a general goal--but (overall) his daily plans were flexible and subject to change. He just "lived in the moment".  He modified his itinerary and his route in whatever ways seemed best at that time.  He ate when he was hungry. He slept when he was tired. He went to the  bathroom whenever he felt the need. Some of my best Isle Royale trips have followed a similar approach.  It's called living on Island time.

One of the more popular/famous episodes of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW is entitled "Man In a Hurry".  Briefly stated, the plot involves an out-of-town businessman (who lives his life impatiently and in a hurry). His car breaks down in Mayberry on a weekend. Thus, he faces challenges in getting his car repaired in a small town on a weekend. The man is initially extremely frustrated with the slow pace of things in Mayberry. However, after a couple of days, he learns to appreciate (and actually embrace) the slower lifestyle of Mayberry and its inhabitants.   He learns to "live on Island time".

(You can learn more about the episode, "Man in a Hurry" by clicking HERE.)

Reasons Why You Should Embrace "Island Time"

1.  YOU OFTEN HAVE FEW (or no) OTHER CHOICES THAN TO EMBRACE ISLAND TIME (UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE ANGRY, FRUSTRATED, AND MISERABLE). For better (or for worse) much of what we encounter on Isle Royale is out of our control -- and there is little that we can do to change that situation. If a moose and her calf are blocking the trail---there is little that you can do to change that situation.  You are not going to be able to hike through that section of trail until mother moose and her baby decide to exit the area. If weather (or mechanical issues) delay your ferry or seaplane--there isn't much that you can do about that. Similar things can be said about encountering situations like illness, injury, or severe storms during your trip.  You can either embrace and accept these situations (by relaxing and modifying your plans accordingly)--or you can choose to be extremely unhappy and miserable because of these ever evolving situations.  Being frustrated and angry (and even throwing a tantrum) will not change the weather nor will it get your seaplane or ferry to arrive any faster.  Also, I playfully dare you to throw a temper tantrum with a mama moose (who has a calf)--and see which one of you wins that battle of wills.  Consciously choose to joyfully accept whatever Island life throws at you and "just roll with it".  It's called "living on Island time".

2. "SIMPLICITY" CAN BE FUN AND REFRESHING.  Think about all of the countless decisions (big or small) that most of us have to make each day (including the dreaded "What's for dinner?" and "What should I wear?"). Next, think about all of the things that we have to do each day--or over the course of an entire  week-- at work, home, or school  Also, consider all of the things that we have to remember each day.  (Remember to take out the trash. Remember to feed the cat. Remember to call that person. Remember to pay that bill. Remember all of the appointments on our schedule. Remember numerous PINs and passwords).

Now, imagine how SIMPLE you can make your life on Isle Royale (if you choose to do so). At it's best and least complex, my Isle Royale life can sometimes be pretty simple. 1) Get up in the morning. Eat something and pack up my campsite. 2) Hike or paddle to someplace. 3) Set up camp. Filter water. Eat something. 4) Sleep. 5) Repeat this the next day.  (My pack doesn't hold much--so my choices for "What should I wear?" and "What should I eat?" are pretty limited and pretty easy). Sometimes, I have some really "big" choices to make like--"Should I stay at this campground another day?"  and "Should I take another nap?".  The joys of living on Island time.

3. EMBRACING ISLAND TIME CAN OFTEN MAKE YOUR TRIP LESS STRESSFUL.  If you have already been to Isle Royale a time or two, you have probably encountered people (on Isle Royale) who have clearly  NOT embraced Island time. Oftentimes, they are pretty easy to spot. They are usually moving very quickly to get somewhere. They are (generally) not looking happy or relaxed as they move about at a swift pace. They have a stern look of determination or "purpose" on their face. They rarely pause to acknowledge anyone else (because they are too busy for that).  They can't slow down and enjoy "HERE" --because they are in a rush to be somewhere else. You sometimes see them moving at almost a sprint --in an effort to reach a campground and secure a shelter or tent site. They are frequently checking the time on their watch or electronic devices. Sometimes, they are figuratively --and/or literally--still "tethered" to their home, office or school and they are frequently looking to see if they have any cell phone service (so they can continue to deal with things at home or at work). Their minds are usually elsewhere (home, work--or their next destination on the Island). Thus, they have difficulty fully enjoying their present situation or their current surroundings.

Imagine how much less stressful your Island life would be--if you adopted the attitude that "I will get to my campground whenever I get there. I may not get a shelter--and that's O.K.. I may have to share a tent site with strangers---and that is perfectly O.K. too.  Instead of rushing, I am going to slow down and enjoy the journey".  Imagine how much less stressful your trip could be if you truly decided to mentally (and literally) disconnect from home and office--and committed yourself to NOT checking for cell service every few minutes.

A Personal Note:  I usually have 2-4 jobs at a time. I am the longtime pastor of a congregation. I also used to manage two substance abuse treatment centers (and this was in addition to serving as pastor of a church). I was the mayor of a village. I am currently the President of the Board of Directors of multi-million dollar non-profit corporation. I have two children with special needs. I have had family members with health  problems--including relatives with terminal illnesses. Thus, I understand what it is like to be busy and to have people who "need" to be in touch with me.  Yet, everyone (in my family and my work circles) knows  -- that once I step onto an Isle Royale ferry or an Isle Royale seaplane--my cellphone is off or on "airplane mode" until I return to the mainland. I make it crystal clear that I will be unavailable. (And, I usually visit Isle Royale once or twice per year for 8-16 days at a time. That's a long time to have the cell phone off).  Personally, I find it to be very important, restful, and energizing -- to periodically "disconnect" from everything in my day-to-day life and to come to Isle Royale and live on Island time.. ("Your Mileage May Vary"--but I dare you to try it sometime).

SOME TIPS AND POINTERS (For "Living on Island Time")

1. DON'T create a busy (or full) schedule or itinerary. Leave one or two days in your schedule or itinerary with NOTHING planned--(no hiking, no paddling, no activities).  This will help give you more flexibility and a bit of a "cushion" to deal with unexpected things like transportation delays, bad weather, bad trail conditions, illness or injury.

2.  Try to have flexibility and options built into your plan.  If you are staying at the lodge or cabins--don't have every moment scheduled. Let some decisions be made on the "day of"--and make your decisions based upon the weather and how you are feeling.  If you are hiking or paddling, try to create a route that permits you to hike/paddle longer (or shorter) distances each day (depending on your mood and the current conditions). Create an overall  itinerary for your trip that permits you (at several points during the trip) to pick an option that will make the overall trip distance either longer or shorter. Feel empowered to modify your "plan" based upon whatever seems right in that particular moment.  For the most part, only one thing is important for me on my trips--that I am at the boat or seaplane in time to depart the Island. The rest of my trip gets decided as I go.

3. Accept the fact that there very likely WILL be a need to alter your plans (sometimes even more than once).  There may be transportation delays. Weather may cause various changes to occur during your trip. In 2021 and 2022, wild fires caused many people's plans and routes to be modified. A blue-green algae bloom may alter your planned water source and/or your campground choice. You may become injured or ill.  A mama moose and her calf may block your path for 40 minutes. If you enter into your trip fully accepting the likelihood that your plan is going to encounter many changes--you are less likely to "stress out" when the inevitable changes and challenges actually do occur.

4. Leave your cellphone off (or in airplane mode) and try to leave work, home, and school behind you.  It is difficult to "live on Island time" --if you are still literally (or mentally) connected to home, work, school, or if you are connected to cell signals or the internet.

5. SLOW DOWN! Relax! "Stop and smell the roses". Don't be in such a rush to get places. (So what if you don't get a shelter and/or if you have to share a tent site with strangers? You will survive--and you might even enjoy the experience and enjoy the people that you encounter). Take time to enjoy the wildlife and the scenery. Take time to talk to people along the trail or at campgrounds. Spend a day or two at the same campground.  Take some naps.  In 2022, I was doing a solo night hike.  From time-to-time, I just stopped--shut off my headlamp--and simply stood there--enjoying the solitude, the darkness, and the "night noises". I was living on island time.

Living on Island time.
Living on Island time.
Adjusting my pace
to this beautiful place.
Living on Island time.