— by a 20-something naturalist–
Last month marked the end to my third year out here on Orcas. These past three years have been a formative transition for me from the proverbial adolescence to adulthood and I express the deepest gratitude for all of those who have honored and assisted me upon this journey. As the ebb and flow of life continues, so does this journey meet a twist, and the liveliness that originally brought me here, is perceivably and hastily being whittled away. To think that I one day wished to die here, is now a distant dream.
Upon first venturing to the islands, there was an abundance of opportunity. I was fortunate enough to land in a wonderful spot, where I was gifted the presence of extremely talented people, who taught me how to live practically within community and from the land. When this stage of life transitioned, I found myself looking for places to rent. The first day I looked on craigslist, I was able to call five different listings and visit them all within the week. I even received call backs days later from eager land owners, asking if I still wished to fill their space. Fast forward two years and there is not a place in-sight, aside from the flood of vacation rentals listed on Air BnB. Month by month, I hear stories from peers, as their housing gets dumped in favor of the cash potential brought on by this internet enterprise. My generation and community are being removed in front of my eyes in favor of tourism. Business owners and long-term community members gripe about lack of workers and volunteer help, whether quality or quantity, as they erect structures and transform buildings on their land to serve the tourist economy in hopes of cashing in on this fabulous opportunity. Seemingly, talk is a cheap form of currency when dealing with cold hard cash.
As a business owner myself, I have had to reflect upon the purpose of growth and at what costs. In reflection over the months, I have come to the conclusion of dissolving my stock and removing myself from the local economy. What was intended for community, is merely a showing of cute products for tourists to consume and line upon their shelves. For a business to succeed, it should never stagnate and shall forever grow. Here on Orcas, value added products must appeal more and more to tourists in order to grow, grow, grow. It is an insatiable beast that requires more computers, more equipment, more time, more energy, and for what? The hopes of one day gaining solitude and comfort? A severe disconnection from community and parasitic dream encouraged by our culture.
So here I am in the year 2015, more tourists are visiting, more festivals with technological noises and lights are being erected—successfully bringing the city to the woods—, more vacation rentals abound, more advertisements to outside communities, more, more, more. There is a perceived hunger for innumerable externalities that has robbed people of the inner beauty and connection. The local economy and community have become a reflection of that. The writing on the wall reads, “Orcas Island, the next Martha’s Vineyard.”
I say all of this without spite, without discontent, without malice. These are merely observations and an expressing of their potential calculated effects. For I will be fine wherever my journey takes me. I am here for now, I am here in joy, and I am here participating, but I foresee that I will someday too become a tourist to this place. A tourist to the forest, to the lakes, and to the natural community that grows and gives back.
If I could give you a standing ovation I would be shouting “bravo! Well said! Spot-on!” What a loss for our community that people like yourself – our youth, our hope – have to leave what is becoming, to my horror, a theme park something like Disneyland North, rather than all that this place could be, and is. When did it become unimportant to have a place for humans of all types, ages, and economic walks to come together and be the best we can be? We have turned so far from natural life in a place where opportunities to connect with nature abound; how ironic and utterly heartbreaking. There are so many other ways to build something viable, sustainable, and inspiring – even in the type of tourists we try to attract. Sadly, things seem to be going in the opposite direction.
You have so eloquently spoken to the crux of the problem. Many locals (of all ages) perceive what has happened to our beloved island and community, as you do. I don’t mean to insult anyone; there are still so many great people here, and new ones still come every day. But more and more, quality people that we can’t afford to lose, must leave. Prices for rentals spin ever higher out of reach for people making little money in the tourist industry, and unemployed in winter; IF you can even find a rental, even WITH enough money. Land ownership is out of reach for the average working person or family. The “dream” they’re selling is a pipe dream for most of us.
Vacay rentals push out locals, push out our local celebrations in town. Land owners outside of our “urban growth area” can’t build guest houses for year-round renters anymore; now they can only build “transient housing” ie “vacay” rentals. It’s wrong and unethical to push out the workers, our fixed income elders with life experience to share, and young bright people like yourself. It’s wrong to push out people whose only “crime” is not to have enough money or not have a home – no matter what age. We need the best of our people to stay.
Town was unbelievably difficult to deal with this summer, due to the sheer volume of people. I don’t think the islands can continue to support this kind of volume of people; many who come here in summer and want to move here – it’s false advertising, though. Mercenaries build a myth, and people fall for it, and in the meantime, all that is precious here is being lost.
I have no answers – I am broken hearted at the whole situation. But thank you for speaking out and speaking from your heart. I don’t know who you are, since the editor allowed you to be anonymous. But if you know who I am and ever want to sit down and have some kind of meaningful conversation, please find me and let’s chat.
I wish you the best in all your endeavors, whoever you are – it is people exactly like you who we need to stay and make a stand against the disconnect that seems to be destroying our island community, the land and waters we all depend on, and our world. Humble thanks.
Hear hear! to 20-something, and to BSB, from this 70-something naturalist!
Not sure that a youthful Bob Dylan could proclaim “The times, they are a-changin'” today, with that same, decades-old, outspoken, brash confidence. I can only hope that we Islanders recognize and appreciate and nurture the spirit that remains here. Enduring thanks to neighbors involved in local outreach, foundations, youth programs, farm-to-cafeteria, artists, volunteers all. Hear hear!
As one experiencing this “growth that broadens (!) the taxbase” since l953, and myself being part of the search for tourist income to an existing business for 9 years, I see & hear it coming to formerly peaceful Crow Valley in the form of beeping dumptrucks, backhoes, scrapers & bulldozers; hayfields being converted to orchards (thank God & Dorothy, not buildings!), and wonder what it will look like in a few years after road widening to accommodate future traffic, and so on & on…..
Thank you “Twenty Something”! You said it all! Unfortunately, it is in the hearts of the people through which change happens, change that can be detrimental or beneficial to all.
Right now we are experiencing a frenzy of tearing up the land to benefit a few, heartless individuals who only see the dollar signs. When this Development Frenzy is over, the qualities for which people used to come to the Island to experience, will be gone. Just look at the County Maps for the UGA and you will get the picture. I greive for the Natural World that is being devastated wherever The Sacred Dollar Reigns supreme.
The Growth Management Act which is the cause of this Legal rape of the land here supports “build out” in Eastsound, and excludes “the workers” from living in less populated areas on the island. If anyone even cares, lookup Agenda 21 and understand that the GMA is the child of Agenda 21. The overcrowding of town and cities and massive amounts of land unpopulated by most of the people. Twenty Something, I fear that it will be the same wherever you go. I urge you to Stay and fight for what you treasure so Much! I too, will be happy to talk with you. Spirit Eagle
Just reading this article and the comments breaks my heart!!! Let’s be honest, money is the disconnect that seems to be destroying our Island, and I thought we all came here because we had learned that money is NOT the answer! I’m afraid that the Chamber of Commerce is/are the mercenaries building the myth, and(we)the people are falling fall for it. Can we save our Island? I think so…let’s start by raising the minimum wage to $15.00/hour. Make it possible for young people living here to afford housing, and maybe, just maybe, with luck, make tourist less profitable. The myth that our economy depends on tourism still survives and we need to reveal the truth that tourism defeats our economy!!! Merry
PS – I’m with Sadie Bailey, – I am broken hearted at the whole situation and I thank you so much for speaking out and speaking from your heart. I don’t know who you are, but I am listed in the book and would be happy to sit down and try to find answers! This Island is worth saving and I think if people knew the truth, things might start to change!
Allow me to add to the chorus of congratulations on a well-written letter! I still think the answer to our Orcas problem. of depending too highly on tourism, lies in adopting livable housing aimed at older Americans. The jobs from such housing would be year-around; the clients tend to have steady retirement incomes; and they often do less damage to the environment than folks who only come to party.
I am so pleased to hear how many people are concerned about this very important issue. More is certainly not better in a rural community. More is the surest way for an area to no longer be rural. Once that is lost it can never be regained.
My greatest hope is that you get as many people as possible to fight the “more is better” changes being proposed for your Eastsound growth plan with its tiny but powerful 40 units per acres and fight road widening projects. Once its widened that equals traffic lights.
Small changes may seem like they are “for the better” but they will have the greatest negative impact down the road. Personally I think the County should be seriously looking at the litigation the City of San Francisco is pursuing against an adjacent community for not providing enough workforce housing. If they prevail there is justification for capping the transient rental permits program in favor of keeping rentals in year-round permanent occupation. Possibly a quid pro quo for keeping a rental in permanent worker housing rental is to offer a tax break for that structure.
Just a thought.