A few weeks ago, I traveled to the Out Islands of the Bahamas on a rickety 6 seater plane. There was evidence of fire on both wings and the engines made desperate sounds but I felt no fear. Perhaps if I knew what I heard later: flights landing on a 45 degree angle, windshields crashing in on the pilots lap, perhaps I would have been afraid then, but I had not yet heard these stories. The tiny plane danced in the air before we came to a dodgy landing on a tiny runway.

The previous week, I had left Toronto and my job of 5 years to move to Prince Edward County. In the space of a few days I moved my things, unpacked and left to clear my head. If I was going to sit and think about the next chapter of my life, I might as well do it on a warm, Caribbean island.

Let me be clear; my destination, Long Island, was no resort. It’s an isolated place where two people on the beach is considered a crowd. I wanted to live there and experience life on a remote Bahamian island.

I wrote a lot. One day I went to the marina. It was a beautiful day; 80 degrees, bright and sunny and I drank a cold beer and watched two kids laugh as they brought their boat to dock. The water was blue, a deep turquoise, clear; clear enough to see a big needlefish swimming around. He was surrounded by a school of tiny silver fish, so many that the water twinkled with each turn they took. Just a couple weeks prior, I had been in my Toronto office, dealing with clients and worrying about deadlines. People asked why I would leave a promising career in an industry I always wanted to work in to live in a tiny village. As I sat at the marina, I realized why.

In my island paradise, I had time to do everything I needed. No rushing. Long Island relies on the mailboat; it brings all mail and supplies to the island weekly. There is no such thing as fast food. When the boat is late, food is scarce, but nobody gets mad. Coming from a world where some folk get angry if you take longer than an hour to answer email, this was a welcome reminder that a stressful life is unnecessary. My new home, although different in many ways, has a similar mindset.

I learned a few other things. Convenience is a luxury. Fresh food is better than fast. I have more than I need. I have also learned that there is no sense in being angry when something isn’t on time – the typical Bahamian attitude is that things will get done when they get done. This is not lazy, but practical. I hope I can continue these new, calm feelings that I have brought home.

Have you ever been on a trip that opened your mind to a different way of life? I’d love to read some of your stories in the comments below.