10
in other words
october9
2012
Living on a Lake in the Country
By Gayle Rich-Boxman
Living in the country is good for
the soul.
Unless you originate from New
York City and thrive on lots of noise and
scads of people, you might find that the
above statement can relate to you either
for weekend relaxation or as a totally
new lifestyle.
In 2002, my husband and I
bought property at Fishhawk Lake
which began as a weekend getaway. We
would leave from Beaverton and brave
the 5:00 traffic on Highway 26, knowing
that in less than half an hour, we would
be winding down by traveling along the
country roads going through Vernonia
and eventually slipping down the very
quiet Fishhawk Road and 4 miles further
to the entrance to Fishhawk Lake. The
feeling was akin to letting out a big sigh
of relief as traffic would die away and
the fresh country air would permeate
through our open windows and ease the
angst of the week.
Seven years ago, we moved
to Fishhawk Lake full time. What a
change to go from the urban sprawl with
Washington Square, Fred Meyer and lots
of traffic right in our backyard to state
forestland, higher elevations, no street
lamps and a simpler way of living.
What it can do for you is give
you a chance to SLOW DOWN. I no
longer drive at breakneck speeds. If
someone is tailing me a bit too close,
then I just pull over and let them by. It
is about breathing
deeply,
taking
in the beautiful
vistas, and finding
a sense of balance
in your soul. Paying
attention to the little
things like the way
the Nehalem River
would glisten in
the filtered sun as
you drove along the
curves of Highway
47. Slowing down
for the lumbering
Roosevelt elk that
cross your path in
the fall and winter months. I’ve even had
a dozen cows, 2 llamas, a horse, a coyote
or two, deer and a really large black steer
meandering along my stretch of road
while driving—which certainly is a sight
for anyone not born in the country!
Living in the country often
causes you to exercise more. There are
more possibilities for walking, hiking,
biking and jogging
without having to
dodge traffic and
breathe gas fumes
endlessly (or pay
enormous fees to
sweat inside four
walls and have to
share equipment with
some other sweaty
body). Instead of
constantly
parking
yourself in front of
the TV for some
mind-numbing
activity, you lean more towards getting
outside because it’s a better sound for
your peace-of-mind. It’s quieter and
you get to take in the sounds of nature
while “working out.” You might get the
chance to view Mother Nature at her
finest. You could meet up with squirrels
racing in front of you taking their stores
of pre-winter goodies to hide in their
various spots to find later in the season.
You could see two fawns standing stock
still not four yards away from you and
not moving a muscle. You could catch
sight of a Cooper’s Hawk looking down
at you from a few branches above your
head after your dogs have flushed it out
of a bush while on their daily walk.
At night, because it is so SO
quiet, you might hear the splash of a
fish leaping after a bug in the air, or hear
the repetitive sound of an owl hooting
periodically. And the STARS! Bountiful
amounts in the clear night skies, with
regular sightings of shooting stars all
for you own private enjoyment. I even
got to view the last lunar eclipse right in
front of me as if it was my own personal
IMAX film while standing on my front
deck.
Living in the country gives
you the opportunity to worry less about
Vernonia Computer Services
Computer problems? We can help.
Hardware testing, repair, replacement
Mac – Windows – Linux
Software install/upgrade
Virus/spyware removal
Custom systems built
Housecalls
crime. For example, you would NEVER
think about leaving your house unlocked
at night in a big city, but out in the
country, it’s much more commonplace.
Neighbors look out for each other. You
get to know each other’s habits and if
there is a sudden change, someone cares
enough to look into it! I even had one
of my neighbors call to make sure I was
okay because they didn’t see lights on
for an extended period of time—a habit
that they had gotten used to seeing. If
someone is heading “into town” they
might call and ask if you need something
picked up at
Costco. Or they
might just drop
by for a chat.
People actually
KNOW
their
neighbors—
what a concept!
We
are
a
friendly bunch,
who will also
respect
your
privacy but be
warned—you
may have to get
used to waving
to people you
don’t know—or honking your horn as a
pleasantry and not an act of aggression.
So, if you want to get in touch
with your soulfulness, or quiet the
craziness in your head, or maybe even
think about living longer because you’ve
lowered your blood pressure and your
stress level, check out living in the
country. We’ll leave the light on for you!
You can contact me, Gayle Rich-Boxman,
Broker with Vernonia Realty directly at:
(503)755-2905 or e-mail me: richbox@
centurytel.net You can also check out
my website for current listings in the
Fishhawk Lake community: http://www.
lakehomesatfishhawk.com/.
Mariolino’s
Pizza & Grill
Open for
breakfast,
lunch & dinner
We have ice cream!
Available
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-6
and by appointment
Bill Langmaid
(971) 998-3705
bill@rangelights.com
Serving Vernonia since 1970
721 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
(503) 429-5018