There was a time when my husband and I drove to Squibnocket just to hear the pebbles. And then recently we tuned in to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf. We heard and read about the sightings of globs of oil in the Florida Keys, and the speculation that the oil could possibly reach the East Coast. Were the experts really saying our unique Squibnocket, the pristine beach we’ve exulted over for a quarter century, could be threatened?

We return to this vista, this beach and watch the pebbles move back and forth, some leaving the shore, others moving in and out with the waves, and we wait with anticipation just to hear their voices. The wonderful, massive pile of pebbles washes up on the shore, and when the tide washes over them, they make their whooshing sound. Then it’s gurgle, gurgle and out to sea again. The sound is mesmerizing. Add the sight of the ocean, the color of the sky, the feel of the wind, and for us it’s another day of tranquility and reconnecting with our beloved Vineyard.

But do we need to worry? Could our idyllic site possibly be in the path of a natural disaster? It’s unthinkable, of course. Environmental vigilance on this Island is legendary; the farmers, the fishermen, the fiduciaries responsible for the protected lands — we thank them every day for reminding us of our responsibilities to nature.

A lone duck bobs on the water to the east. Another family of ducks bobs on the water to the west. There are walkers with kids and dogs. There are sunbathers, even though it is not quite yet summer and the air near the ocean is still noticeably cool. There are surfers in the distance and others who come running, rushing to get into the water. Boulders glint in the sun. There are houses perched up in the hills. It’s fun to imagine their sweeping views, especially when the ocean is roiling or lightning is bouncing out of the sky.

We often go down to the beach in Katama to watch a storm. We enjoy the storms of the sea as much as the everyday sea. From Aquinnah to Edgartown, water and sea are all around.

But at Squibnocket on this day, thoughts of ugly black sludge crowd into our otherwise lovely thoughts, like dark intruders. We think of the Exxon Valdez spill that fouled the waters of Alaska and now the BP rig that is fouling the waters of the Gulf in an environmental disaster that is unprecedented in our lifetime. Here on the Vineyard we take our unpolluted sea for granted. The sea and sand make us feel connected to the earth.

And surrounded by the sea on all sides, we know there is always a place to go. We know the pebbles at Squibnocket will always be there. They are part of the natural rhythm; their sound is magical. They transport us to another place.

The BP oil slick may never reach our Squibnocket, but for the people who live in the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana — very soon their Squibnockets may only exist in their memories.

— Sue Lamoreaux