The words “balance”, “center”, and  “grounded” are rooted in our goals as evolving humans. Obviously, our planet Earth has these goals, too. We identify the hemispheres, we understand gravity, we witness natural disasters and all the other forces that make this planet go ’round. But what about the equator? That circle of latitude is an imaginary line but we can physically “experience” it (in various locations) but most famously in the country named after it…Ecuador!

Nothing interests me more in travel goals than choosing destinations which provide intriguing experiences. I need depth…not just physical attributes. Many travelers visit Ecuador for the adventurous Galapagos Islands but I was focused on Ecuador for the equatorial  and cultural experiences. In 2020, right as Covid-19 was rippling through our world before we knew what was going on, my husband and I traveled to Ecuador.

As America has the 4 Corners landmark people can stand on to be in four states at the same time, Ecuador has our estimation of the famous imaginary line celebrating the center of our Earth. That’s where I wanted to go! Staying in the capital of Quito, we took a taxi ride to Mitad del Mundo which is the park and museum showcasing the equatorial discoveries. It was a misty and cloudy day  in January and although the rest of our trip was spent in summery clothes, we wore raincoats and carried umbrellas for expected precipitation. Campy as it seems, I had to take the photo on the equatorial line. My husband and I were pre-celebrating our upcoming 30th wedding anniversary. That meeting in the middle was a milestone photo of entering our empty-nester years and embarking on couples trips. We posed on the middle of the earth. Later, I interpreted some symbolisms of this experience at this time in our lives.

We moved onto the Intinan Museum which is adjacent to this property and where the equatorial demonstrations and experiments are provided in guided tours.

Before the GPS accuracy, the equatorial line was estimated by less advanced scientific methods. Due to the latter, there are two sites representing the earth’s middle. Like kids on a school field trip, we devoured all of the experiments and knowledge. My husband balanced the egg on the nail. I walked the line trying not to fall over to the side. I tried to outsmart this balancing act by remembering my childhood ballet lessons of keeping my arms out to the side and high stepping one leg raise at a time. We also watched the Coriolis effect of water draining to the opposite sides of a sink drain depending on where you positioned the sink on each hemisphere side of the line. Our efforts at the equator museum earned us an honorary passport “stamp” which was a clear sticker and my husband even earned a certificate for balancing the egg on the nail. These physical challenges are symbolic of what humans spiritually and mentally do daily to stay in balance and find the middle. Teetering, balancing, persisting….

Whether these experiments are true or not, they definitely make me reflect now on what the symbolisms are of the concepts of balance and equality. My father used to often inspire my husband and me with his proverbs about balance. With his hands mimicking a see-saw going up and down, he wisely told us, “Life is a balance; there are ups and downs.” I can’t remember if he said anything about it ever being calmly in the middle. For him, there probably wasn’t much of a  stable and calm middle. (Merchant Marines and immigration adventures and then a terminally ill wife). Yet, he was always happy because he chose happiness. He often said, “Happiness is a state of the mind.” It was cute how he added the “the”[mind]  as many English-as a-second-language people do.

Like the equatorial line we posed on, I jokingly captioned our photo, “Meet me at the equator.” Standing on opposite sides of the line’s hemispheres, we leaned in for a kiss. On another photo, we shook hands. Like the “ups” in life or relationships, those gestures represent the high points and positives. We all have the “downs” in life, too. Balancing carefully on that “line we walk” is the challenge and the goal is equality. The equator is the personification of the world’s equality and balance; the place where the hemispheres meet in the middle. Whether it’s between siblings, playmates, friends, co-workers, spouses, or solo goals and resolutions, we are frequently striving to meet in the middle and find that spot of balance. We deal with the goals and effects  of equatorial, equality, boundaries, balance, sometimes opposite sides.…just like the Earth.

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

photos by Gina and Patrick