Tranquil and Peaceful Island life

Sometimes the view isn't so clear....

There is a mythology that people have about Vashon...that is it peaceful & tranquil.  The idea that all your neighbors are nice, all people are watching out for each other, and that kindness abounds is no more true here than it is anywhere.

In fact, when you have relationships with people you don't like here (aka enemies) you are more likely to run into them here than you are in a larger and more cosmopolitan area.  My partner was recently accosted by a former (and probably mentally ill) landlord.  My anxiety skyrocketed when I saw a former employee who I had to "let go" at the park today....all in all it's not perfect.

The reality is that life can be wonderful wherever you are....and life can be miserable wherever you are...and for most if it life is in the middle!

On a greater scale the dysfunction of non-profits, businesses, and other things are more present, simply because in a small town one possesses a greater awareness of their surroundings.

On the other hand the care that neighbors possess for one another reveals itself to a greater degree here on the Island.  On Vashon you wave at your neighbors, you learn the faces of grocery store employees, you trust that you would find each other in the case of an emergency.  All in all though  I think that this is the case in cities as well...we just aren't as aware of it.

What do you think?

Easter Sunday Ferry Traffic

So I cannot say that traffic is always bad on Easter during the late morning.  But I can say that in 2015 we were desperate to get home to Vashon sometime around 11 and the line was long in Seattle. Very long.

Saturday evening Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry Traffic

Saturday evening ferry traffic into Seattle can mean longer lines than usual.

I have learned this intuitively, and am keenly aware of it as we plan to go into the city on Saturday evenings, but it might not be intuitive to visitors or Islanders who typically stick around on Saturday nights.

Keep it in mind, line up a little bit early on Saturday evenings.

Island Boots; Vashon's Feet.

These are the feet of Islanders.

Prepared not just for rainy days but for wet adventures.

For beach walks.

For damp journeys through stands of Western Red Cedars.

 And, for jumping in puddles.
For creating a garden in the lowest (and muddiest) part of the yard.

For a low tide walk.
For finding crabs in the eel grass.

And yes, sometimes for a quick trip to Thriftway.
Or to grab coffee with a friend.
These are the feet of Vashon.

High School Basketball

I know almost no one who is in High School, but small town life (for me) screams being aware of High School arts and sports.

So one Friday evening, with newborn in tow, we all went toe the High School girls and boys basketball games. Fun and easy leisure.

Vashon Island Weddings- Please shuttle your guests.

So it is the season where people who are getting married this summer start putting together all of the logistics of their weddings.

So as an Islander who has lived here for several summers can I make a recommendation...

Work out some sort of shuttle system for your guests!  Maybe not all of them---but just offer it.  Just think

Your 75+ guests and 2 other weddings on the Island means that hundreds more people are coming on the Island JUST for your wedding. If it is a beautiful weekend hundreds of more folks come to the Island. Then bam most of your guests are late, people are missing things and their are frantic to leave the Island (and your reception as well) because they are nervous about making the ferry to leave the Island as well.

Just a thought.
And I promise, Islanders will appreciate it, we love sharing our Island. We don't like long ferry lines any more than anyone else (we just tolerate them better).

2014 Vashon Holiday Boat traffic

Every year around the holiday season people on Island start asking, "what are the ferry lines like on xxx holiday or holiday eve?" And for some reason I don't think any of us can remember.  It's like this big vortex of bad ferry experiences and good ferry experiences and if you are an Islander you have had lots of both.

I figure though, while it is still fresh I would document what I remember about Ferry Traffic 2014 on the holidays:

Christmas Eve Ferry Traffic leaving Vashon going to Fauntleroy:

2014 the boats were on a normal schedule.
No boats were cancelled.
 By 3:30 in the afternoon the boats were very full.

So if you have someplace to be at with a VERY specific time frame then you might want to line up early. Otherwise, just be patient!


New Years Eve Ferry Traffic leaving Vashon going to Fauntleroy:
Normal Workday schedule
No boats were cancelled.
We lined up for our boat maybe 15 minutes earlier than we might have.
I am glad we did the boats were MUCH more full than a normal weekday to Seattle.

New Years Day Traffic to and from Vashon 
Normal Schedule
No boats were cancelled
My partner had to work this day (in Seattle) and got too and from the Island with utter ease!!


Sunday after New Years- the Sunday before schools start up etc. leaving Vashon
We actually went into Seattle on the 8:55am boat and it was unusually crowded for a Sunday morning (without a Seahawks game).
Then when we returned around 2:30 there were pretty long lines to leave the Island.  Later in the afternoon this year some boats were cancelled or delayed but even before they were delayed the lines were long.
My guess is a lot of people who have vacation homes on Vashon were all headed back around the same time and the lines got long quickly.  Keep this in mind for future planning.


It seems to me the crucial point is that when the boats operate a normal schedule things run smoothly, but when things get backed up, reduced to 2 boats or whatever, the systems gets mangled pretty quickly!