If you put a bunch of crayfish in a jar they will kill each other within twenty-four hours. It’s not hunger or sex; it’s because they cannot stand to look at each other all the time. Which is why I have decided to stay in St. Marys, Georgia. In St. Marys there are not as many people as in most other places and when the hypocrisy and petty bickering of small-town life just plain drives me berserk, I can always go to Cumberland Island where a short walk leaves you totally alone in a beautiful place.

I used to enjoy loitering in front of Tate’s Grocery and Deli here in St. Marys. There were movers and shakers and characters galore, and it made me feel a part of things. But Tate’s ignominious, unceremonious, and just plain ugly closure (a prime example of judicial and legal censure) was a rude reminder conflicts and intrigues which can drive one such as myself, to addiction, and/or resignation. Not only has St. Marys lost a major center for political intrigue, financial planning, and a soap-box for cracker barrel philosophers to philosophize, now major newspapers are covering the legal maneuvers of a leading citizen accused of a major criminal crime in this small town. There seems to be no end to bad news and modern pressure.

And so deprived of my roost and my illusions, I turned to cigarettes, beer, and worst of all…to Mountain Dew. My descent into legal drug addiction was swift and steep. My demise seemed certain; all I wanted to do was to get out of town. Then I remembered Cumberland Island.

Even through my nicotine glazed brain I could still see the peaceful beauty of that barrier island. There are no autos, no mills, no stores, and no people on the island. So after two days of hiking and sleeping next to the ocean I had escaped beer and cigarettes. (I still, however, find the Mountain Dew dependency difficult to shake). The trip to the island had worked and will probably work for me again when things once more turn ugly.
People seem to be drinking and smoking a lot these days, and it makes them sick. They drink and smoke to keep their hopes up, to keep working, or simply to be accepted by people who drink and smoke. But it makes them sick and eventually it kills them.

However, being alone and healthy can bring peace of mind without that new truck or a victory by your favorite football team. (Its time to go to Cumberland Island Dawg and Jag fans). The sound of the ocean can rival any radio station. There you don’t have to listen to a DJ or talk show host trying to make you laugh. Instead the soothing sound of the surf can relax you and help relieve the stress caused by people and modern society.

There are no vending machines or bars in the wilderness, but there is an opportunity to be truly alone. Of course that can be frightening to some people, but that kind of fear can be a healthy alternative to the anxiety that comes from bad jobs and bad relationships. There is only so much of interpersonal conflict and dishonesty a person can take without beginning that emotional melt down that leads to addiction or resignation.

Aloneness and loneliness are two different things. Loneliness is a longing to be accepted by others-aloneness is learning to accept others. Being alone can help you see exactly what you are willing to do to accept and to be accepted by others. This is critical in the world with so many people…people that may love or despise you, are fair to you or cheat you, encourage or intimidate you. Being alone is a time to sort your thoughts.

If you need to be alone, a deserted place near the ocean is a great place to be.