I was born in Treasure Beach almost fifty five years ago, and lived there until just before the age of twelve. The life I live now is in sharp contrast to the one I left behind but I do not look back with regret or remorse. The fact is I feel extremely lucky to have experienced both because it gives me the feeling that I have lived in two different worlds!

What do I mean by two different worlds? Well, imagine a world without paved road or electricity; a world without indoor plumbing or running water (except occasionally); a world without refrigeration, air conditioning, internet, and television. That was the world I lived in at one stage of my life. One that was totally alien to the one I inhabit now.

Thinking of that long-ago time, I am reminded of a book that I read years ago entitled "The Pearl" (written by John Steinbeck.....I believe). My world was of a time when sailboats were still in use and kids knew what an oar or a rudder was. There were no GPS, so fishermen had to learn to "draw mark". Fortunately those days were before thievery at Sea got out of hand, and we could still leave our buoys afloat instead of the "underwater" fishing done today. It was nothing remarkable to see Flying Fish putting on a show in the bay, or to find octopi, lobsters, shrimps, and urchins staking out territory among the reefs.

I remember the old men casting their seines into the bay, and when it was time to "haul seine", everyone on the seaside hurried down to the shore to lend a hand. In those days the nets were bulging with mullet, snook, boney, kingfish, mackerel, jacks, and so much more. On each haul there was such a bounty of crayfish pulled from the Sea and, there not being a market for crustaceans except for lobsters, we the children had such a time filling our paint pans with the tasty creatures before heading home!

After the catch was cleared from the seines, I remembered the fishermen cleaning and mending their nets before hanging them out in the sun to dry. I recall the skill they displayed as they plied their craft and I lament that those skills now seem lost forever. Even the tools they used, some of which were made from wood, seem to have disappeared entirely.

Those days are gone now, and the old men of the Sea too, but they live on in the memories of those of us fortunate to have been around then. Many of us, getting long in the tooth now, and having experienced life abroad, are beginning to look back and are realizing that, in spite of everything, it wasn't so bad after all.

My wish is that the children of today will be as fortunate as we have been in reliving their memories too. Lets give them that chance by protecting our environment. The Sea is our home too.