I am back in Pouch Cove for a couple of days. And walking along the East Coast Trail to the South and North of town I realize another difference between the residency here in 2007 and the one in Terra Nova Park: Here, the absolutely amazing and wild nature is just a few minutes walk away, whereas in Terra Nova one had to go out by boat or drive a while until one would find such places… I believe that the knowledge of having these natural beauties just around the corner influences the way of thinking and working even when sitting inside at the computer. Moreover one can leave the desk at any time and go to have a look from the cliffs onto the sea to free one’s mind… This is when contemplation has a chance to arise.
But contemplation is not everything: At Terra Nova Park, the support of the staff enabled me to realize work that I could not have just done on my own. It has a special quality as it is the result of a collective effort. Perfect would be to have both: Time and occasion for contemplation as well as the option of specific, collective support – in Pouch Cove I had the first but not the latter…