July 5-12                                        Southwest Harbor, Maine

Sunday was a very cool day which preceded a week of beautiful, sunny weather.  Living on a boat is a great experience for us.  Our boat is large enough to provide all the comforts we desire but small enough that we can manage it ourselves without need of a crew.  With three staterooms and three heads, we can provide guests with space and privacy.  We have a very comfortable king-size bed and separate heads (except when we have guests), the galley is ample with a microwave, oven, and full-size refrigerator.  Our salon has a large wrap-around sofa that provides the BEST place to watch TV.  Two people can comfortably recline (and frequently fall asleep).  The aft deck is great for dining and observing the surrounding scene. We have plenty of space to be very comfortable.  Although our boat is not of modern design (it is thirty years old), we are very pleased we chose it.

We are also pleased we chose to leave the boat during the winter and spring months at Southwest Harbor, Maine.  We have some issues with the storage company but getting to come to Maine without a long trip from Baltimore has been a wonderful experience.  As we have been at Southwest Harbor several times, we feel very welcome at the marina and comfortable in the area.  Our prolonged stay this year has given us additional knowledge of the area and enhanced our appreciation of the special people who live here.

Although Bar Harbor is the main attraction of the area, we prefer Southwest Harbor.  It is less touristy, very picturesque, and offers some excellent shops and restaurants, all distinguished by casual STYLE.  There is nothing tacky!  The local bakery is famous for its fabulous pies and pizza.  A small pie shop is usually sold out by 2:00 PM and the popover shop is crowded every morning.  Southwest Harbor is a charming community with a welcoming spirit and we feel very privileged to be a part of it this summer.

On Tuesday, we attended a performance at the Acadia Repertory Theater in Somesville (about five miles from SW Harbor).  It was a tour de force for two actors who played the roles of patrons in an English pub. The performances were great.  The play was dark and much more dramatic than we expected.  It was quite strong emotionally and left us with a feeling of intruding on the intimacy of others' relationships.  We love live theater and will plan to attend future plays.

During the summer months, the very active Southwest Harbor Library Association presents a number of events for bibliophiles.  Most feature Maine artists.  I attended such an event featuring Cathie Pelietier, an author of adult and young adult fiction.  Her newest book is A Year After Henry.  She was exceptionally interesting in discussing her work and the book publishing business environment today.

Following Blake’s admonition, I made it my mission to clean and organize the compartments on the bridge, sadly neglected for five years.  It was quite a job but I was successful in removing and discarding multiple items from the previous owners (snorkeling equipment, fins, masks, etc.).  David completed a long-planned goal of putting shelves into the engine rooms.  These are utilized to hold his version of a “marine Home Depot” with multiple tools, screws, bolts, fittings, etc.  He did a great job and we can now find items we need without searching through drawers and bins throughout the boat.

We are enjoying our new dinghy and the propane motor is performing well.  Sunset cruises in the harbor have become frequent excursions.  The water is smooth as glass and the shifting light reminds one of why multiple artists have come to Maine to paint their landscapes.  I know the winters here can be gruesome but the summers are fantastic!