The Art of the Pootle

Text by Perri Black

The long days of summer in Vacationland lend themselves beautifully to developing the fine art of “pootling,” a gentle pastime much favored by the eccentric classes and those who march to the beat of a different drummer. While the British dictionary definition states that the activity of pootling is enjoyable but not important, I beg to differ. Nothing is more important than doing little things you enjoy, especially since the opportunity to do them so seldom arises in today’s chaotic world of jobs, schedules, extra-curricular activities and other outside obligations. Time spent enjoying doing nothing in particular for no particular reason is the ultimate vacation and should be treasured beyond measure.

“Pootle” comes from the character Charles Pooter in the comical iconic Victorian novel, Diary of a Nobody, by George and Weedon Grossmith. Mr. Pooter became a cultural archetype of English suburbia as he endeavored to come to terms with keeping up appearances and dealing with the Victorian bourgeoisie near London at the end of the 19th century. He was anxious, accident prone, pretentious, and concerned only with his very limited world of English middle class suburbia so to be called a “Pooterish” person was originally a derogatory slur. I believe over the years the definition of pootling has mellowed to become a nostalgic reference to a slower pace of life representing activities that many seem to (wrongly) feel are the domain only of the leisured classes.

Pootling differs from “just messing around” in that the latter phrase implies a stronger sense of action and, perhaps, a vague sense of purpose as well as making
a mess, which is definitely not a part of proper pootling. Pootling also differs from meditation and relaxation because to pootle does involve a modicum of physical activity.“Puttering” is perhaps closest in meaning to“pootling” but its harsher pronunciation implies more intent and a bit more direction than, to my mind, the softer, more whimsical sound of “pootling,” which suggests the idea of happily going nowhere in particular.

As I see it, pootling requires mindfulness and being completely in the moment. One’s mind should be at ease with worriesand cares completely cast aside. An aspect
of light anticipation and the expectation of gentle adventure can be part of a good pootle, but not necessarily a prerequisite. The exploration of supposedly eaningless
minutiae is essential to pootling, but when it generates too many ideas and more purposeful action, it then becomes something else.

Maine always provides ample opportunities and venues for pootling. A leisurely wander through the woods leaving most stones unturned, but occasionally looking
to see what lies beneath an interesting one, is an example of pootling. Carrying binoculars but only viewing the random bird, not necessarily the most exotic one, is another. Salamander spotting on“Big Night” during mud season is a wonderful communal pootle missed by most summer folks who are usually only in Maine after June.

The best place for pootling is, of course, on a lake. Pootling on jet skis is impossible; they move way too fast, but pontoon and electric boats along with elegant vintage Chris-Crafts (think On Golden Pond) make very good pootlers if kept to a minimum speed with no set course. Rowboats are also fine pootle-craft, but the ultimate vessels for pootling are canoes. I believe it is no accident that “pootle” and “paddle” sound so similar. Slowly paddling around the boggy parts of a lake, seeing what there is to see, is the quintessential Maine pootle experience in the Lakes Region almost any time of year.

A day trip to the coast provides the excellent opportunity to pootle about in tide pools. Children are well aware of the fascinating things to be found in these miniature oceans, but a proper pootle among them is best left to adults. It is a rare child who has the ability to pootle properly (like jet skis, they also tend to move too fast) and, should this exceptional talent be discovered in one’s offspring, it should be carefully nurtured and cultivated.

Daydreaming and cloud watching, while not technically pootling in the purist sense due to the lack of any physical activity involved in these pursuits (if done correctly),
can be considered forms of mental pootling be in motion all the time. A frightening concept to those who need to be in motion all the time.

Gardens lend themselves well to pootling, as do potting sheds, but one must be wary of turning a pootle into a putter through too much weeding and pruning. Simply wandering through the garden checking to see what is blooming, pulling the odd intrusive weed and, of course, talking to the vegetation, is pootling to the highest degree.

Rearranging books on shelves and mindful dusting (but never vacuuming . . . too noisy) are true forms of domestic pootling, but the best pootling in the house is done
in the kitchen. Sorting through cupboards, sniffing bottles of spices and condiments, and reading cookbooks is advanced pootling, which may (but not always) lead to dinner. “Tinkering” is mechanical pootling and one never knows where that may lead . . .

Pootling is often the precursor to many great ideas. Kurt Vonnegut, an inveterate pootler if there ever was one, said,“I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart about, don’t let anybody tell you different.” He definitely understood the importance of the activity. Einstein, I’m sure, was a master pootler and Picasso elevated pootling to fine art in his wonderful sketches, drawings and ceramics. Haiku is the quintessential literary pootle . . . just read the Japanese masters and little poems by Richard Wright and Jack Kerouac. I suspect many Nobel Laureates were pootlers, among them Jimmy Carter and Bishop Desmond Tutu, as well as a few humanistic politicians and world leaders who probably wouldn’t admit to it if asked.

Though it may be impossible in hectic American daily life, serious pootling should be a part of any vacation, wherever it may be. Pootling is relaxing, soothing and rejuvenating, putting one’s mind at ease and predisposing one to think better of the world and its inhabitants. Even if this frame of mind does not last for long, surely it is priceless while it does. A good pootle is what a vacation is all about and summer in Maine is the perfect place to practice. If you are lucky, pootling will become an integral part of your life and perhaps even change it forever.

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