Michael Good
His Work: Operating owner of Down East Nature Tours.
“Out in the field I just feel free and I feel a sense of wonder. Every day is different… a sense of curiosity of what’s going to happen.” He spends about 60% of his working time out in the field touring people through the island and showing them many species of birds. Mr. Good says “I’m always excited to be out in the field.” He spends about 40% of his time in the office and laughingly referred to it as “the dungeon” because it is located in the basement of his house. In contrast he speaks about how it’s a nice space that he feels comfortable in with a large window looking out over the woods. He says even though the space is more confined he feels comfortable.
“I don’t make a lot of money doing what I do, but I absolutely enjoy it. I have a passion and that’s what kind of keeps driving me to try to tweak new ways to do my business.” In accordance with the dynamic seasonal changes of tourism on the island Mr. Good generally has to seek other employment during the winter doing things he isn’t excited about. He says “I’m a field biologist and I love being out in the field. It’s a unique opportunity for myself. I feel lucky sometimes in that sense” even though he struggles with the winters because of the fluctuation in tourism on the island.
“Dynamic beauty, phenomenal experiences, avian wonder, and life” is what he says when I ask him to describe his experience with his work. He is fueled by what he does for work but also is trying to find ways to make it more profitable to provide for himself and his family and is exploring new ways of expanding his eco-tourism business into other regions during the winter. His workspace out in the field is a living environment. He describes it as an “open, free, [and] dynamic office.”
Mr. Good says “I’m not making millions of dollars but I’m able to pay the bills and enjoy the time I have had out in the field. It’s just such an amazing world we live in.”
Themes: dynamic, open, free, wonder, curiosity, struggle.
