Why I am out of touch with music

Published 18 May 2005

As a follow-up to the musical baton going through my hands, I thought I should share how I lost touch with music.

I used to be totally into music— going to shows, buying new stuff as it came out, listening to obscure radio stations to hear the newest, most innovative tunes. Then, in 1994, I dropped out of society. Having just graduated from college, I went off to be a field hand for biologist studying sea birds in the Galápagos Islands.

It was an opportunity of a lifetime— the chance to work hands-on with birds that have no fear of humans whatsoever, an all-expense-paid trip to the Galápagos, and some really high-profile biological research.

So I found myself living on an uninhabited island on the Equator, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There were 5 other people there with me. We were stocked by supply boats that came 1000 miles from Ecuador once every 2-3 months— we drank rainwater, ate canned food, and used candles to see when it got dark.

I was there 8 months the first time, then decided to expand my work into a Master’s degree. So I went back for 5 more months within a year, and then back for 1 more month about a year later. All told, I lived for 14 months in a tent and had only the music I could bring with me. This was 1994-6, so my source was cassette tapes and a walkman. I hopelessly lost touch with music while I was on that island, and I haven’t been able to catch up since.

I’m not complaining— I got in touch with a lot of other aspects of life during that time. Sometimes I just miss the music.

Here are some photos of my living quarters, so you can start to grasp what I’m talking about. Click the photos to go to Flickr and see notes about what they contain.

The Outside

The Inside

Later, I’ll follow up with some photos of the wildlife and the rest of camp.

Filed under Music, Personal