“You only need to stand
near the ocean to feel the
power of the universe
and a closeness to the
one who created it.” 
Susan Gale

The prophetic words of Jacques Cousteau have proven to be true throughout my lifetime. He said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” It most certainly does.

I spent the first eighteen years of my life living within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. Sadly, I took it for granted. In the years since that time, I’ve realized the validity of Cousteau’s words.

There is something magical about large bodies of water. Due to the cold water and dangerous undertow at Ocean Beach in The City, in my high school years, my friends and I would often drive to Santa Cruz to spend time at more user-friendly beaches. In 1971, I had the privilege of experiencing the Caribbean Sea while visiting Jamaica. In 1974, I moved to The Bahamas for one year. The Bahamas is geographically located in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean, but it is culturally and politically considered part of the Caribbean. Like the water in Jamaica, the Bahamas is blessed with clear, warm, aquamarine seas. This might explain why I’ve been to Jamaica twice and to The Bahamas eight times, with another trip planned for next week. 

For many years, I’ve also had the dream of renting a beach house for a month-long writing retreat. While I am definitely drawn to the ocean, I’m not a big fan of the beach. I enjoy being near the beach, just not on it. I prefer setting myself up on a patch of grass, an outcropping of rocks, or even a concrete patio where I can sit, read, reflect, and, occasionally, write. So when I saw the house in the image above, I thought it would be perfect for my writing retreat. Sadly, I have no idea where the house is located, nor whether it is available for rental use.

American artist Robert Wyland’s experience of the ocean mirrors my own, which is why I am convinced that a home with an ocean view would be the perfect writing venue. Wyland wrote, “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” 

Writing can do this, too.