What I love most of all about being here is the privacy and always having a view of the water, while at the same time being surrounded by the woods. Those three things go a long way toward summing it up! Also:
- Facing the sunsets, which we expect to see reflected in the bay, forming a complete picture of sky, land, and water.
- Having easy access and proximity to the pebble beach and tides. Rather than being perched high on a cliff, Seanook is IN the water twice a day. So far, we are enjoying that intimacy with the ocean.
Our seclusion: We look across the bay at Murray Hill and Bayville, where there is one house on top of another, seemingly a village stacked onto the hillside. It is nice to look at, and the reflection of the lights at night is beautiful, but… here we have just our four buildings in the group, separated by natural foliage for privacy.
Our relative cool: In summer, hopefully the wind will not be from the west off the blistering land, but rather from the northeast or, conversely, a southwest sea breeze funneling up the bay. Then, true to this place, the morning could be a bit chilly even in summer. Our temperatures here average 5–10 degrees cooler than those in Boothbay Harbor! This might be the combined effect of our tree cover, the natural wind funnel created by the land ridges on either side of our deeply incised southwest-facing bay, and the general flow of weather from west to east.
The sounds: I wake up in the morning to the quiet whirr of lobster boats circling from one trap to the next, along with the gentle lapping of little waves and the identifiable joyous birdsong. When the comparative roar of unmuffled lawnmowers from across the bay takes over, I know it is seven o’clock. Then the caws of crows mixed with the clucking announcement by seagulls, as they celebrate finding an early bit of breakfast, combine with the sight of flickering leaf-shaped shadows on the wall opposite a southeast-facing window as the sun streams in through nearby branches—reminding me again that I am not just by the ocean, but also in the Maine woods.
The sea fragrance: When you are approaching the area by car, if you turn off the AC and open the windows in Wiscasset, you can get a preview of the air to come. When at last you turn down Paradise Point Road, the salt air intensifies over that last third of a mile. All days are not created equal—sometimes the sea aroma is more intense than others, depending on the humidity, the stillness of the air, the height of the tide, or who knows what!
As we live here, we do get accustomed to the aromas and notice them less. However, except on the very coldest days of winter, we always keep our bedroom windows open and the room closed off from the rest of the house. Every entrance we make to that room requires a full deep breath to appreciate the wonderful air. It’s a habit—it’s just something we do!
The variety of moods: Rarely are two days the same. I love the “thick o’ fog” days when the feeling of enclosure is about as complete as it can get. Even better are the half-in, half-out days when the fog comes and goes, magically exposing some vistas while concealing others and lending a softness to all.
In stark contrast are the crystal-clear days. I was recently at Seanook at such a time. The wind was gently from the north, making the tiniest ripples on the water. The effect was of various shades of clear blue mixing and mutating in constant motion. The view of a sailboat here or there added to my pleasure. My husband, Ron, would say, “These are the days we live for!” But it is the variety that makes them so special.
Color changes: Even in the woods, the colors actually change on a grey day. I thought it was my imagination that the leaves appeared duller on a cloudy day, but they really do! Chlorophyll makes use of red and blue light, reflecting back the green wavelengths. So on a foggy day, there is less green to send out, and the leaves appear more grey! The reduced plant activity correlates with a more laid-back feeling for me as well.
In conclusion: At this unique small piece of Paradise situated on the eastern shore of Linekin Bay, of course it is not perfect all the time, but the good things more than compensate for the mundane. It’s like the calm at the end of a storm, or the sugar on top, or the perfect apple after all the wormy ones.
Those of us who are lucky enough to stay here appreciate these things every day! We love being here, soaking in the wonder of it.
More to come…