Nice piece. I remember being on a boat off the west coast of Scotland and passing by a small island with an old lighthouse on it. A very large walled garden stood next to the house/ lighthouse. "I could live there", I thought to myself. Beautiful on a sunny day, perhaps not so in a storm. Fun fact - no drinking water on the island.
I imagine they are too remote to have too much infrastructural investment! That would really be a challenge! That's very cool though, I have very romantic notions of lighthouses and they are probably not at all related to the reality of lighthouses haha!
Yes, you have to generate your own electricity and bring in drinking water these days. But most lighthouses on the mainland (and some on islands) had enough land to grow food and you could harvest rainwater from the roofs. Ironically, with modern technology they are very liveable these days!
Thank you so much! That's what my weekly exercises are all about--just exploring silly ideas that pop in my head! If you keep your eye out the chain of inspiration should continue because Michael Atkinson likes to riff on my stories with a take of his own and they are unfailingly amazing!
I love solitude and one of my most depressing moments was when my spiritual director told me that God doesn't generally call introverts to be hermits. I get why--introverts live too much in their heads, which means they actually do need community if they're going to progress in the spiritual life. It was just depressing to be told that.
I have never wanted to be a lighthouse keeper. It sounds like too much work.
I don't think I've ever had a meal in mind for when I return from vacation. Usually, when I go on vacation, I'm more about what foods I will be eating in a new place.
That's really interesting! I guess that makes sense--if you're going to do something it has to be a sacrifice! Many saint stories affirm that it's very worldly and sociable people who have a spiritual conversion and take to the hermitage. We introverts have an interior hermitage already, and the sacrifice is pushing ourselves out of it!
Great thoughts! Thank you so much for reading (and restacking!!)
This was a great story; honestly, I wouldn't mind being a lighthouse keeper, I really wouldn't. I might've inherited that; my dad loved pictures of lighthouses. I'm not really sure why. In any event, I like solitude, but at times I find I enjoy being around people, at least in small to medium groups. The one thing I don't like is large crowds.
Thank you! I was going for a less overtly sci fi, less overtly horror vibe. Maybe "literary fiction". Trying it on for size!
Well said--you might as well have read my mind. Large Crowds are scary--there's an uncontrollable energy to them. I find myself constantly conscious of whatever group I'm with and making escape plans. Even if there's nothing inherently risky--I like to know how to GET OUT of a crowd quickly, if the need arises. It's exhausting!
This was cute. Literary and I'm sure could be a longer tale of his months. I get the sense he's trepidatious about the stay, understandable. Being alone at night with naught but the stars can make one terrified or comforted, wonder what sort he is. Many avenues, horror, literary, fantasy, scifi, with Antarctica a stone's throw away could do anything.
What is your relationship with solitude?
I love it. Quiet solitude is the best, it's the only way to get anything done too. I have gone weeks without talking or seeing anyone and I'm no worse off for it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing friends and family, my wife and I spend a lot of time chitchatting, going places, playing boardgames, etc. but I rarely crave social interaction. I often crave solitude (and quiet).
Have you ever wanted to be a lighthouse keeper?
Yes, there are two marvellous lighthouses on Holy Island off Anglesey (an island off the coast of north Wales) which are quite small but idyllic. North Stack and South Stack, remote and looking out to nothing but the Irish Sea. I doubt the opportunity would come up though, most lighthouses, if not all in Britain, are automated.
What meal do you look forward to most when you return from a vacation?
My own cooking, whether it's scrambled egg and black pudding, chicken pie, or the Sunday roast, so long as I've cooked it it means I'm home. I'm not a big fan of going away, I despair staying in hotels and would much rather stay with friends or family but even then any more than 3 days and I want to go home.
"With Antarctica a stone's throw away could do anything"--yes, exactly! It's been fun to think about. I was definitely trying on some literary fiction to see how it felt. Of course--I left out a lot that would make it an enjoyable read, but as a teaser or taster, I am glad to hear it did the job admirably!
I'm seriously considering letting readers vote on stories to be expanded. These tasters are always fun and more than once folks have said "i'd like to hear more!" so maybe that would be a fun project!
Nice piece. I remember being on a boat off the west coast of Scotland and passing by a small island with an old lighthouse on it. A very large walled garden stood next to the house/ lighthouse. "I could live there", I thought to myself. Beautiful on a sunny day, perhaps not so in a storm. Fun fact - no drinking water on the island.
I imagine they are too remote to have too much infrastructural investment! That would really be a challenge! That's very cool though, I have very romantic notions of lighthouses and they are probably not at all related to the reality of lighthouses haha!
Yes, you have to generate your own electricity and bring in drinking water these days. But most lighthouses on the mainland (and some on islands) had enough land to grow food and you could harvest rainwater from the roofs. Ironically, with modern technology they are very liveable these days!
Great piece. Love where ideas for writing come from, it can sometimes be so random.
Thank you so much! That's what my weekly exercises are all about--just exploring silly ideas that pop in my head! If you keep your eye out the chain of inspiration should continue because Michael Atkinson likes to riff on my stories with a take of his own and they are unfailingly amazing!
I'll check it out!
I love solitude and one of my most depressing moments was when my spiritual director told me that God doesn't generally call introverts to be hermits. I get why--introverts live too much in their heads, which means they actually do need community if they're going to progress in the spiritual life. It was just depressing to be told that.
I have never wanted to be a lighthouse keeper. It sounds like too much work.
I don't think I've ever had a meal in mind for when I return from vacation. Usually, when I go on vacation, I'm more about what foods I will be eating in a new place.
That's really interesting! I guess that makes sense--if you're going to do something it has to be a sacrifice! Many saint stories affirm that it's very worldly and sociable people who have a spiritual conversion and take to the hermitage. We introverts have an interior hermitage already, and the sacrifice is pushing ourselves out of it!
Great thoughts! Thank you so much for reading (and restacking!!)
This was a great story; honestly, I wouldn't mind being a lighthouse keeper, I really wouldn't. I might've inherited that; my dad loved pictures of lighthouses. I'm not really sure why. In any event, I like solitude, but at times I find I enjoy being around people, at least in small to medium groups. The one thing I don't like is large crowds.
Thank you! I was going for a less overtly sci fi, less overtly horror vibe. Maybe "literary fiction". Trying it on for size!
Well said--you might as well have read my mind. Large Crowds are scary--there's an uncontrollable energy to them. I find myself constantly conscious of whatever group I'm with and making escape plans. Even if there's nothing inherently risky--I like to know how to GET OUT of a crowd quickly, if the need arises. It's exhausting!
EXACTLY.
This was cute. Literary and I'm sure could be a longer tale of his months. I get the sense he's trepidatious about the stay, understandable. Being alone at night with naught but the stars can make one terrified or comforted, wonder what sort he is. Many avenues, horror, literary, fantasy, scifi, with Antarctica a stone's throw away could do anything.
What is your relationship with solitude?
I love it. Quiet solitude is the best, it's the only way to get anything done too. I have gone weeks without talking or seeing anyone and I'm no worse off for it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing friends and family, my wife and I spend a lot of time chitchatting, going places, playing boardgames, etc. but I rarely crave social interaction. I often crave solitude (and quiet).
Have you ever wanted to be a lighthouse keeper?
Yes, there are two marvellous lighthouses on Holy Island off Anglesey (an island off the coast of north Wales) which are quite small but idyllic. North Stack and South Stack, remote and looking out to nothing but the Irish Sea. I doubt the opportunity would come up though, most lighthouses, if not all in Britain, are automated.
What meal do you look forward to most when you return from a vacation?
My own cooking, whether it's scrambled egg and black pudding, chicken pie, or the Sunday roast, so long as I've cooked it it means I'm home. I'm not a big fan of going away, I despair staying in hotels and would much rather stay with friends or family but even then any more than 3 days and I want to go home.
"With Antarctica a stone's throw away could do anything"--yes, exactly! It's been fun to think about. I was definitely trying on some literary fiction to see how it felt. Of course--I left out a lot that would make it an enjoyable read, but as a teaser or taster, I am glad to hear it did the job admirably!
I'm seriously considering letting readers vote on stories to be expanded. These tasters are always fun and more than once folks have said "i'd like to hear more!" so maybe that would be a fun project!
Thanks for reading and restacking, Redd!
There's something so peaceful about lighthouses... I think we've all dreamed of what it might be like to live in one.
By the way, I think this prompt is the missing piece I needed for my next story - I have a setting! Thanks Scoot!
I love when that happens! Looking forward to it!!
For posterity-- here is a poetical version of this story.
https://substack.com/@gibberish/note/c-42531004?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=18pqmt