A specs life - Point Nemo (48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W)

“Point Nemo” is an oceanic point farthest from any landmass. It's located in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly equidistant from the nearest land points: Ducie Island, Motu Nui, and Maher Island. Due to its extreme isolation, it's often used as a spacecraft graveyard, where old satellites and spacecraft are intentionally de-orbited to fall and burn up harmlessly in the remote waters. There are countless other remote locations where one could feel like a "speck in the middle of the ocean."

A spec in the middle of the ocean, at the “pole of inaccessibility”, in the middle of nothingness, no land in sight, with just stars to visit you at night – it could be the greatest escape. A spec in these seas would be quite adventurous skirting from wave to wave, going up and down, alone, swirling maybe and occasionally being hit by an avalanche of humungous waves or alternatively being thrown in the wake of another. From a specs point of view, being involuntarily thrust into the air, would be a change in scenery, getting a bird’s eye view of my blue backyard appreciating the beauty of nature. A specs life, in the middle of the ocean, will be completely and utterly determined by the mercies of the waves.

The location of “Point Nemo” is relatively lifeless and its location within the “South Pacific Gyre” (a large system of rotating ocean currents) which blocks nutrients from reaching the area and being so far from land means it gets little run-off from coastal waters. If the spec were to have a conscience in this oceanic serenity, it would have an opportunity of introspection and personal growth. But this vortex is consistently swirling, whirlpools and undercurrents yet remaining at one place. The occasional encounter with marine life would be awe inspiring and can you imagine a chance encounter with a fellow spec. It would be a relief from social isolation and a genuine excitement in hoping for better things to come.

It is quite befitting to have named this location after the fictional character “Captain Nemo” who also lived in isolation, in his submarine the “Nautilus”. An isolation that had been borne from a personal loss and in this seclusion brought out his vulnerabilities, yet he had a longing for human interaction. Despite its solitary location “Point Nemo” still needs its ocean currents to have defined its geographical location and the imaginative spec still needs the reassurance of being pushed and swayed by the waves. This reciprocity is important and the proverb “No man is an island” is very relevant today. Even Captain Nemo needs the crew of the Nautilus and “point Nemo” would appreciate the spec and despite any solitary preferences, family and community would definitely trump, a life of solitude.