Comings and goings

One of the constants about our little corner of the world is change. Partly because we are a tourist area, partly because of the number of US government (Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection) and military, partly because of corporate transfers, comings and goings are pretty common. This month, we have a bunch of goings.

Our good friends Eric and Poppy left this weekend for a new assignment in the States. We miss them already. They are more than great friends: Poppy is one of our favorite "book swap" buddies and a wonderful, beautiful surfer. Eric has been my favorite subject for kite surfing photos. (There is a new set of pictures from his last day on the island on Flickr.)

This weekend another good friend left amid tears and hugs. Grace, who was most often seen as a trail guide at Tropical Trailrides, is back in New York to go back to school. Grace, we miss your smile and your joy and your laughter. Feel free to visit any time. I think we can arrange a ride on Chocolate if you miss being saddle-sore.

Also earlier this month, our surfer friends Ashley and Drew got married and then left for Florida. Later this month another of of Coastie buddies, Ian, leaves for a new assignment. And Caitlin and JW leave next week.

But it's not all goings. Our friend Janelle came back this weekend (after getting stuck in Florida for two extra days). While government and corporate transfers take friends off the island, they bring new friends in. And friends do come back: for example, after two years Anne, a friend from our early days here, came back back with her friend Sara for brief visit.

All the goings make us appreciate the time we have with our friends that much more and not take any of that time for granted. Both the comings and the goings are reasons to celebrate friendships, whether close or distant.