The Skinny on Walden

Waldon Pond became famous by the book, Walden, or Life in the Woods written by Henry David Thoreau.   Thoreau, a writer and philosopher, lived at the pond for two years while he experimented the lifestyle of simple living.  The pond, near Concord, MA, is preserved by the state reservation and is a wonderful retreat from the city.  I have spent many days here enjoying the water and woods nearby.



"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.  I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary.  I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

Henry David Thoreau, Walden "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"

Walden Pond in Autumn (thanks google)

The pond also makes for a great midnight swim to celebrate one's 25th birthday with Boston's best friends Kalli and Kristin.  Thanks for the memories Walden.