Now, when you first hear what this post is all about today, you may get a little giggle. For you non-Americans who are reading this, you may not know what this is about, I am not sure. I hope you’ll bear with me.
I was born in 1962. For some readers that makes me a young kid still. For others, that means I’m already an old man, it all depends on when you were born! Back when I was a kid, in the late 60’s and early 70’s there was a TV show that was really part of the culture of people my age. I’m talking about Gilligan’s Island. For those who don’t know Gilligan’s Island, which is probably not so many readers, it was a TV show about a group of 7 people who went on a 3 hour boat cruise from Hawaii. The cruise ended up being a lot longer than 3 hours, though!
You see, the ship got caught up in a storm and capsized. The passengers and crew ended up on a deserted island, which came to be known as Gilligan’s Island. Gilligan was a sort of bumbling fellow who was the first mate on the boat. He was a likable guy, but pretty inept.
Anyway, this group of “castaways” as they were called, were stranded on this island with no way to communicate with the outside world. The world thought that the crew all died in the storm.
The other day, I happened to see that the movie, “Gilligan’s Island: The Rescue” was on TV, and I had my son watch it with me. I wanted him to see the TV show that was popular when I was a boy. Frankly, the story was kind of stupid to me now that I am older, but still it was fun to watch it with my son.
Basically, in this movie, the castaways had been stranded on the island for 15 years already, when it happened that they were finally rescued. They were taken back to Hawaii and there were huge celebrations as people welcomed them back to civilization. After the celebrations ended, they all went their separate ways, except for the Skipper and Gilligan, who still stayed together in Hawaii. The story shifted to different parts of the USA to show each of the castaways and how their life was going now that they had been rescued from the island.
For each and every one of them, they found that the world had changed so much and they missed the simple life of the island. They did not have much in common with their friends from their previous life before the shipwreck. It seemed that they all had a much clearer connection with the other people they were stranded with on the island, and very little connection with their life prior to the shipwreck!
Of course, while they were stranded on the island, they all had learned about how to live on a tropical island. They learned how to eat the tropical fruits that were growing on the island to provide for the nutrition that they needed. They learned how to drink the coconut water, how to build huts from bamboo, etc. Frankly, although I had never thought about this until seeing the movie, they learned a lot of the same things that I have learned since living in the Philippines. Of course, their learning was in order to survive, while my learning was only by observing how people do things here, for learning due to my curiosity about how things work on an island.
At the end of the movie, all of the castaways got together again for a reunion in Hawaii, and they again decided to depart on a cruise tour. Of course, as you can surely guess, there was a storm again, and they were all stranded again.. on the same island where they had spent 15 years! They were all back together again. This was the end of the movie, but surely they must have spent the rest of their lives together on the island. Maybe they are still there as I type this! 🙂
While watching the movie, I was surprised, and did not expect it, but as I watched the travails of each castaway as they learned about how their homeland had changed in 15 years, my mind started thinking about my own situation. I have lived in the Philippines, on an island, for 13+ years, almost as long as the fictional characters of my childhood TV viewing. I know that a lot has changed in the USA since I left. I doubt that I will ever go back to the States, though, so does it really matter?
I have been thinking this over for a few days, since seeing the movie. I finally came to a conclusion. Sure, things have changed in the USA, but it really does not matter to me. What matters, though, is that I have changed. I have changed a lot. Those castaways on Gilligan’s Island changed too. It is not only that “civilization” had changed by the time they went back, but they had each changed in a way that even if civilization had stayed the same over the course of 15 years, they still would have been uncomfortable upon returning.
I’m not going back, at least I have no intention to. Could I, though, if I wanted to? Yeah, I am sure I could make the adjustment, and there would certainly be an adjustment for me to make. But, I am quite comfortable in my little island here in the Philippines. Really, as far as things like technology, the Philippines has changed a lot since I’ve been here. We have most of the modern conveniences that the USA has, albeit a few years behind. But, we also have traditional things here. We have a slower pace of life. We have a place where we know our neighbors. We can sit back and enjoy life a lot more than we could in the States.
Yeah, I’m happy here. I’m not going back.
Bob;
I would not fit in if I went back to the State’s; this is just something I know for sure. The lifestyle here suits me just fine.
I do have one question about Gilligan’s Island, who packed all those dresses for the ladies for only a three hour tour?
Hi Paul – I have been asking that question for decades now. I can understand the Howells having a wardrobe.. I mean a millionaire (probably a billionaire in today’s dollars) has the resources that they probably travel with lots of things that we ordinary people don’t need. Ginger? Maybe. But Maryanne? 😉
Had not really thought about the Gilligan Island connection, Bob, but it really is a lot like that here. The exception is that I have no desire to be “Rescued”! I am perfectly content to live among my new neighbors and the simple lifestyle,even with the frequent power outages snd water shortages. The simple truth is that i like the laid back lifestyle and being able to do as much or as little as I wish each Day. I an fortunate to live on high ground so flooding is never a problem here nor is it in an area prone to mud slides. And the bonus came when I met my wife Susan!. Life just don’t get any better that that for me!
Hey Joe – Yep! I don’t want to be rescued either! In fact, if the rescue ship came to get me, I’d have to be dragged aboard, kicking and screaming!
Well….. Gonna tip my hand and show my age. I remember the actor who played Gilligan, in another role. I first saw and liked Bob Denver as the beatnik, Maynard G. Krebs, in the TV show Dobey Gillis. I thought it was funny how Krebs had gotten cleaned up and got a job in Hawaii.
But on the main point. I experienced similar feelings when we returned to the US from about 12 years in Germany. We were there from 1982 til 1994. I didn’t realize how much I had changed. Things had changed stateside too. I thought everyone in America had gone completely crazy.
Take are,
Pete
Hi Pete – Ha ha.. I’m with you on the “I thought the US had gone crazy” thing… not only I “thought” that, but I think it is the truth!
Hi guys….. good memories with that show but I never watched the movie…. I am 66 years old retired for 2 years, I was working 7 days a week all year long and I always had in my mind …. how life is after retirement, living in the States since 76 went back to Mexico ( I am Mexican) and what a surprise….. all it is different, I never lost the culture or the language but… all my friends gone… my favor places disappear except my mountains that I used to hike or ran in my motorcycle but…. I felt out of place, I returned to Houston, TX. and I am out of place too 🙁
I have planned to go to the Philippines next December and take advantage of the new immigration permit of 6 months instead of 21 days and I will try to find a place there where I could settle for a while, I love the ocean and been a trekker I feel PI it is the right place to land….. I want to be far from big cities and in contact with nature….
thank you Bob for share Guilligan’s Island story.. it’s only makes me to feel the need to be in PI already…..
Hi Tavo – Nice to hear from you, thanks for stopping by! Your story is much like mine, except you are about to throw in a third country! I hope you find that the Philippines is the place for you!
I hope so Bob… have made thru the net many friends there and I am amazed how all are waiting to welcome me in PI, what a wonderful people that country has, myself I am a very simple person and I think it is a good chance I will feel fine around there 🙂
of course, I follow you and many expats already living in PI and love to read all your experiences, lots of info and fun
It sure has worked out well for me, Tavo! I think ti will for you too.
Hi Tavo, I think you might fit right in the Philippines as it is actually more mexican influenced than spanish. 😀
“If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost!”
Ha ha.. yes, Mike.. but hold on! I thought the Minnow WAS lost! 🙂
The Gilligan’s Island of my mind is my barrio Salaza in Palauig, Zambales. Though it has changed considerably in appearance from a sleepy barrio intersected by the dusty national road since I left it as a boy to a progressive little barrio intersected by the paved national road since I last visited it as an adult, the vision of the barrio that remains forever etched in my mind wherever in the world I went is the bucolic, backward Salaza I left as a boy, While I never regretted a day of my life living away from it, the tug it exerts at my heartstrings is felt everyday.
Glad your memories are fond, John.
Bob,
When you say you wont be back, does that mean not even for a visit? When is the last time you visited the US?
I was just in the Islands for three weeks during September-August, got to spend some time with Dave Starr, were gong to look for the illusive Paul Thompson since we went to Subic, but we got distracted looking at the Starr family farm land and will have to put that off for another visit. I normally head to the Philippines every six months for several weeks and have been doing so for over 30 years. I simply love this post!
The BIG joke with my friends in the Philippines is that I am more at “Home” there than here in San Francisco. In fact several visits ago they gave me an OFW paperwork package. it was fake of course but a damn funny joke! That I only go back to SFO for the money just like the other OFW’s had me rolling!!
I agree though, that when i do make the transition I probably wont be coming back either. Just curious if you visit here or not.
Hi Joe – I have been living here for 13 years, actually a little more. So far, I have never gone back to the States for a visit or any other reason. I probably never will.
Dave told me about your visit, and about you and him taking a few little trips. He enjoyed your visit very much!
Bob:
There’s that old saying, “You can never go home again”, which I believe is very true. Things will have changed… It goes both ways. Much will be the same, but it will feel different.
When Rebecca and I came to live here, she had been gone for over 20 years. I wrote about this a while back, but she really got upset when we went to Bulala and she had not been there for 30 years. Why? It was different. It wasn’t the way she remembered. Not only had the place changed, but so did she. When she left, she was a young farm girl, no experience to the outside world. Now, she was a worldly adult. Your memories become just that… memories, but you can never re-live them.
As we talk about adjustment for wives coming home being difficult, this is a big part of it. I cannot speak for Feyma, but my guess would be that part of her difficulty in returning was the same.
My cousin has lived in Japan for over 45 years. Japanese culture is one where, no matter how fluent in the language (he is completely fluent…To a teaching level) and culture, foreigners are virtually never fully accepted. Oh, he’s treated politely. He can easily live daily life. But over those years, he has found very few close friends (lots of colleagues). His in-laws not only never accepted him, they pretty much disassociated from their daughter, too. Unfortunately, when he goes back to the States (yearly, and he owns several properties there), he does not “fit in” there, either. Why? He thinks, acts, and breathes Japanese. Though he is familiar with American culture, it has become foreign to him. In many ways, he is the proverbial “man without a country”. It can be a lonely life.
John – What you say is so true! You really never can go home again. Not only has home changed, but you have too! Good comment.
I really miss that show – to the point that I’ve obtained digital copies of every episode including the pilot, which had a different locale – the Caribbean – a different (Calypso style) theme and some cast members who didn’t make the regular show. Unlike Bob, I continue to enjoy GI, because it works on different levels. The kid that I was loved the slapstick and the inevitability of every rescue attempt failing, plus the ingenious ways that Gilligan managed to turn the simplest tasks into catastrophes, while the adult that I’ve become likes the social satire – some of it in-your-face and some quite subtle. My sister thinks I’m borderline demented for liking this series, so mine is obviously not a universal view!
Hi Marc – Nice to hear from you! I hope you are doing well.
What do you mean – “unlike Bob, I continue to enjoy GI”… ??? I never said that I don’t like Gilligan’s Island! I just have not seen it in so many years, and just happened to catch the follow up movie. But, I like the show.. heck, it’s an iconic show from my childhood, how could I not like it! 🙂
Hey Bob,
I remember the show well. As a child I guess i didn’t really under stand the concept of a television “series”. I was always hopfull that they would get rescued, never really understanding that if they did, the show would come to an end. There was always Green Acres.:O I remember the big burning question of the day was Ginger or Maryann?
You are sure right, Hudson… the question of our time, Ginger or Maryanne. For me, I will take Ginger any day! Ha ha.
Hi Bob,
Great article!
My husband has been here over 20+ years and has not visited the USA in 16+ years. He said he has no desire to visit as this is his home now. He watches television news with utter amazement what is going on in the States. He told me recently that he would not know how to “function within the dysfunction.” He, further, said that every country has its problems (especially the Philippines) but the problems in the USA are the largest and have the greatest impact on the rest of the world.
My husband tells everyone that will listen, he traveled the world his entire life to finally find his little piece of heaven in the Philippines.
You and many of the others are correct when you say that you just can’t really go home again.
To everyone: “Have a great dry weekend and stay Blessed.”
Jocelyn
PS My husband remembers fondly that weekly show!
Hi Jocelyn, your husband ame I seem to agree on a lot of things. I watch the TV news in amazement of some of the things going on back in the States. I am happy to be where I am.
Bob
What a great show. What a great article and analogy. When I first arrived I watched the news also and even though I just left the states in Jan when you are away from the day to day life it amazes you none-the-less. I have therefore stopped watching the news from the States. It sure seems to add to my stress free life. Take care.
Hi Ron, thanks for your kind words, I am glad you enjoyed the article. I still watch American news, but a lot less than I used to.
Hi, Bob! Nice story about the Giligan’s Island! When I was a kid, a lot of 60s, 70s or 80s American TV shows were being aired on Philippine TV channels. I’ve heard about Giligan’s Island as a kid, but have never read the story or seen the show. I even thought it was similar to “Treasure’s Island” or “Robinson Crusoe” until now! Haha!
Hi JR, nice to hear from you, it has been a while. Glad you enjoyed today’s article!
Funny story Bob but so true. We moved down south for 5 years and just came back to Portland 2 1/2 years ago. I was quite suprised that in a lot of ways it did not feel like home anymore. You would not even recognize the area you and Feyma lived in when we met you guys. Sometimes it seems like the world is changing so fast and us older guys are standing still… but what are the options?
Hi Mike – Happy to hear from you, I hope you are doing well. I am sure that the entire Portland/Vancouver area has changed a lot. I probably wouldn’t recognize it, even after only 13 years. Progress happens, I guess! Like you say, what are the options? 🙂
Hi Bob great story…..I always wondered when I was younger why the heck the people of Gilligan’s Island wanted to be rescued? I had always dreamed of a place like that. The only problem would be the lack of medical facilities, but in the Philippines you don’t have to worry about that.
Its sad to say I don’t feel at home any more in the USA……I don’t feel at home in the Philippines yet, but I do feel a lot more comfortable there than in the US. When I am in Davao I can walk down the street at night with only a little fear, in Calif. where I live if you are walking at night it is dangerous.
Hi Dave – Ha ha… I guess you think differently than I do… when I was a kid, I always pulled for them to be rescued, now that I am older, I am like you… why did they want to leave? They had everything they needed, and no hassles!
Don’t worry, after you have more time in Davao, you will learn that you can walk the streets – day or night – with no fear at all!
Yea Bob,
Brings back memories when you posted this story, I use to watch that show all the time and would watch the movie if i catch it on,What did your son think of it? Did he think it was dumb as most of the younger generation thinks that about what we watched back in the day. I can remember when i watch the show i think how i would have done some of the things they did. Even today when i watch movies or shows about making it on a deserted islands that i could make it, I was born in the big city but always wanted to live in the country!
Hi Todd – My son thought the movie was fun, but not nearly as much as I did! He didn’t grow up with Gilligan’s island like so many of us did! I don’t think he thought it was dumb at all, though.
That’s not old. Remember when Gilligan was Maynard G. Kribbs, the beatnik on the Dobie Gillis show.
How could I remember it when that show was on before I was even born?
My favorite on the Dobie Gillis show was Chatsworth Osborne Jr.
You’re a kid to me Bob.
I have to say, feels pretty good to be a kid again!
Ha ha! Dennis. I remember that show. I think it was called “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”. I was a little kid and didn’t give a hoot about Dobies’ girl troubles. I just liked to watch Maynard’s antics. Bob Denver made a good career out of that type of character.
Take care,
Pete
Bob,
Giligans Island brings back a lot of fond memories. I used to watch it everyday after returning from school. I can even remember some of the episodes. Things are getting crazier everyday in the States. As for returning to the US. I have to return there in Jan-Feb to take care of some business. Take care.
I know what you mean, Papa Duck, fond memories for me too. After school was always Gilligan time!
Hi Bob -Would you go back for a holiday even? If not why not?
No, I probably won’t go back, for a visit, to live or any other reason. Why? I just don’t have any desire to go back, or a good reason. Nothing stopping me from returning, but I just don’t feel a need to do so.
Hi Bob,
Interesting story, i had vaguely heard of Giligans Island before.
It brought back memories for me of the Blair Bros true story.
Lawrence and his late brother Lorne spent a decade in the late 60s/70s exploring the Indonesian Archipelago, filming as they went.
They hitched boat rides from Island to Island, including one unsavoury trip on a Pirate ship.
They explored and lived in remote jungles with Ethnic tribes, including one Cannibal village and another Headhunters.
Eventually they returned to London to write their amazing book and edit their film footage which became an award winning documentary.
They found it extremely difficult to resettle in a western first world so a couple of years later when their work was done they headed back and built a house in Bali.
Lawrence now in his late 60s has lived in Bali for 35yrs and has no wish to ever leave.
Sir Arthur C Clarke, science fiction writer (2001:A Space Odyssey) emigrated to Sri Lanka in 1956 and died there in 2008 at the grand old age of 90.
BTW, i like the new layout, just fathomed out how to use it, lol.
Interesting, Chas. I had never heard of the Blair Brothers until you brought this up. Quite interesting to hear about them!
Glad you like the new layout!
its just like castaway by tom hanks thats all i can relate with.. Hehehehe. anyway, thanks for sharing some of part of american history.
#reminiscing with a smile 😉
Glad you enjoyed the article!