Last night, Allison and I were returning from a date night and, having dined and shopped in North Conway, we were driving across the main road headed into Fryeburg, when Allison said:
That phrase has stuck in my mind all day. It was a keenly astute observation... This is now our third summer living here in Maine, and working/living/playing at this camp... but I have noticed that this year, for the very first time, Maine feels a bit like a second home to me. A new home, full of things I've yet to discover or enjoy, but a home nonetheless.
[caption id="attachment_332" align="alignleft" width="194"]
A new magazine for me to take on... (Source: Internet, www.msspa.org)[/caption]
When we were checking out at the grocery store, I saw a copy of "DownEast" magazine ('The Magazine of Maine Est.1954!); it caught my eye primarily because it was a "Best of Maine" issue, and looked like we might get some ideas from it on how to spend our Sundays this summer. Sunday is Allison's official day off, and we try to cram in a trip to somewhere exciting, but we keep it in a fairly decent radius so we get back in time for Sunday night campfire.
That's the joy of our new 'home'... each summer, we try to find something different to explore, or go do something we have yet to do together but might have done separately. This Sunday, our plan is to go to Boothbay Harbor, a quaint seaside town northwest of Portland; Allison has been there but I have yet to, and with my love of the ocean and seaside communities, it looks to be right in my sweet spot.
There's so much to learn about Maine... even a short recreational drive not far from here yields heretofore unseen sights; tonight I drove into Fryeburg to purchase something at one of the convenience stores, and decided to head south on a road I have passed many many times, but never explored.... and I discovered a wonderful climb up the mountain until I looped back into Fryeburg from the south. (This trip might warrant a later blogging..) Someday, I want to sample my second life during the winter, for a short trip. Given the well known reputation for the harsh winters here, some might call that nuts, but I want to experience my second home with snow; maybe a family Christmas trip might be arranged some year in the future.
[caption id="attachment_333" align="alignright" width="220"]
The magazine of my first life. (Source: www.texashighways.com)[/caption]
And yet, as much as there is to learn about Maine, I realized as I mulled this blog topic over in my mind today-- there is a lot I can still learn about Texas. We are all guilty of this- how often do the local folks never go to the great art museum, or botanical gardens, etc, etc, etc, that is the highlight of the 'Visitor's Guide to X town in X state'? At my first home, I recently subscribed to the magazine "Texas Highways", which is a counterpart in many ways to the "DownEast" I was reading today. And I've begun to make a list in Evernote of the places I want to go in Texas, or the restaurants I want to try, that I have read about in those pages.
In the latest issue I just finished (ironically, here in Maine), I found an article on small music hall in downtown Galveston, where great folk/acoustic music can be heard... the place is apparently quite legendary. I passed the link to the article on to a Facebook Friend, whom I know loves folk/acoustic music, and asked her if she had ever been there, for it's only a short drive from her home in Houston. She admitted that she had not, and that was "bad on her!" A little gem of Texas, right there in her backyard, that will be just her kind of place for a night out. You are welcome, Ms. Stinson!
So I challenge you- where ever you make your life, be it one life, two lives, or three or more... explore. Learn. The world is a big ol' huge place with lots of fun and quirky and entertaining stuff just around the corner. Go find it. Get out from in front of the TV/computer/xbox/whatever, and go explore. Learn about your home.
As for me, as I read the "DownEast" on the elliptical machine this morning, I decided right then and there that I would subscribe to it as soon as I return to Texas... and I will read and dream about my second home, our second life, until I am able to return once again.
You know, it's like we live two lives. Our Texas life, and then our Maine life.
That phrase has stuck in my mind all day. It was a keenly astute observation... This is now our third summer living here in Maine, and working/living/playing at this camp... but I have noticed that this year, for the very first time, Maine feels a bit like a second home to me. A new home, full of things I've yet to discover or enjoy, but a home nonetheless.
[caption id="attachment_332" align="alignleft" width="194"]
A new magazine for me to take on... (Source: Internet, www.msspa.org)[/caption]When we were checking out at the grocery store, I saw a copy of "DownEast" magazine ('The Magazine of Maine Est.1954!); it caught my eye primarily because it was a "Best of Maine" issue, and looked like we might get some ideas from it on how to spend our Sundays this summer. Sunday is Allison's official day off, and we try to cram in a trip to somewhere exciting, but we keep it in a fairly decent radius so we get back in time for Sunday night campfire.
That's the joy of our new 'home'... each summer, we try to find something different to explore, or go do something we have yet to do together but might have done separately. This Sunday, our plan is to go to Boothbay Harbor, a quaint seaside town northwest of Portland; Allison has been there but I have yet to, and with my love of the ocean and seaside communities, it looks to be right in my sweet spot.
There's so much to learn about Maine... even a short recreational drive not far from here yields heretofore unseen sights; tonight I drove into Fryeburg to purchase something at one of the convenience stores, and decided to head south on a road I have passed many many times, but never explored.... and I discovered a wonderful climb up the mountain until I looped back into Fryeburg from the south. (This trip might warrant a later blogging..) Someday, I want to sample my second life during the winter, for a short trip. Given the well known reputation for the harsh winters here, some might call that nuts, but I want to experience my second home with snow; maybe a family Christmas trip might be arranged some year in the future.
[caption id="attachment_333" align="alignright" width="220"]
The magazine of my first life. (Source: www.texashighways.com)[/caption]And yet, as much as there is to learn about Maine, I realized as I mulled this blog topic over in my mind today-- there is a lot I can still learn about Texas. We are all guilty of this- how often do the local folks never go to the great art museum, or botanical gardens, etc, etc, etc, that is the highlight of the 'Visitor's Guide to X town in X state'? At my first home, I recently subscribed to the magazine "Texas Highways", which is a counterpart in many ways to the "DownEast" I was reading today. And I've begun to make a list in Evernote of the places I want to go in Texas, or the restaurants I want to try, that I have read about in those pages.
In the latest issue I just finished (ironically, here in Maine), I found an article on small music hall in downtown Galveston, where great folk/acoustic music can be heard... the place is apparently quite legendary. I passed the link to the article on to a Facebook Friend, whom I know loves folk/acoustic music, and asked her if she had ever been there, for it's only a short drive from her home in Houston. She admitted that she had not, and that was "bad on her!" A little gem of Texas, right there in her backyard, that will be just her kind of place for a night out. You are welcome, Ms. Stinson!
So I challenge you- where ever you make your life, be it one life, two lives, or three or more... explore. Learn. The world is a big ol' huge place with lots of fun and quirky and entertaining stuff just around the corner. Go find it. Get out from in front of the TV/computer/xbox/whatever, and go explore. Learn about your home.
As for me, as I read the "DownEast" on the elliptical machine this morning, I decided right then and there that I would subscribe to it as soon as I return to Texas... and I will read and dream about my second home, our second life, until I am able to return once again.
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Sure enjoy reading your messages ... hear such wonderful things about summer camp in Maine ..... thanks for allowing us to have a tiny peak into your summer!!!
ReplyDeleteMaine is a special place. Jurie and I went there for our 25th anniversary for a few days. Beautiful place to explore. Needless to say , we saw only a little of Maine. Enjoy.
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