Gettin Out Of The City

Pine tress and winding roads....

I really don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a place in the country to go to and escape urban life on these long weekends or just to get out of town for a few days. Once you traverse the limits the pace is so much slower, relaxing. The quiet, cool night air induces sleep and the birds sing you awake early.


.....endless ocean and sky.

There are, of course, those long walks along the shore in the early hours, listening to just the surf, followed by the ritual stop at Bread and Roses for our morning coffee and pastry. Back at the house we catch up on the stack of papers and magazines we brought. We never have time for these at home, too busy an agenda, but here the time moves slowly. There is time to talk with neighbors and friends, time to kick off shoes and decide what to do next, time for leisurely explorations of the art galleries without having to get dressed for it. And the most important meeting of the day is a stop in at Harbor Candy Shop for a piece of rocky road fudge.


The newly-installed bird feeders in the rock garden.

Rain or shine, the relaxing stretches on like a cat after a nap. Then there is always the food. Country breakfasts give way to country lunches and dinners; fresh seafood, corn on the cob, munched butterly, all that local produce, home-made pies. Then, more visits with neighbors, a rarity in our urban existence. We receive an email from across the pond, news of a new birth after waking from an afternoon snooze.


The TBF fave morning spot in Ogunquit.

Then, after a few days, you realize that it's the duality of country v. city that makes for such a lucky life. You miss the pavement and architecture. It's nice, too, to have the choice of so many cultural events every night, a dinner party, getting dressed up, the thrill of a live concert. As much as that little piece of heaven by the shore is your handy, blessed escape, it's nice to come home, too.

No matter where we travel, however comfortable or far away, exotic or exciting, it's always nice to come home.