The hermit in me dreads summer. After enjoying the
isolation of winter and mud season, the arrival of Memorial Day weekend brings
with it the influx of summer visitors. The steady stream of vehicles heading to
Yellowstone Park makes Crossing Highway 20 a five minute ordeal of “go, don’t
go”. The calm sound of a breeze blowing through the pines is replaced by the
whine of ATV’s. The still of the evening that is occasionally broken by the visitor’s
shrieks, which while leading a cute, fluffy, little dog past the cabin, is
approached by our three large dogs bounding to greet the cute chew-toy at the
end of a leash.
Just as my anxiety reaches the intolerable level, Sheri
and I meet two couples who own a nearby cabin. They are both from Pocatello and
Sheri was acquainted with one of them. After a nice afternoon visit, we
exchange phone numbers and have some new friends. This experience slapped the old
hermit upside the head, remembering that so many relationships that I value
would not be if the solitary man had his way. The hermit would rather remain
isolated but the guy on the other shoulder enjoys meeting new people, getting
to know them and watching them enjoy the area that I love so much.
Whether it is the world-class fly fishing, ATV riding,
camping or just watching a couple of moose grazing in the Henry’s Fork, Island
Park has a remarkable variety of activities to enjoy. It is small wonder why so
many choose to vacation here. Sharing Island Park is what I agreed to when we
chose to make this area our home. Residents have accepted stewardship of this
wonderful area and all take that responsibility very seriously.
I really don’t mind adhering to that agreement but the transition
to summer visitors is difficult!
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