Cape Cod (Boston: spring break, home, neighborhood)

[Ronniec78]

Hi Rich,

Well I will say I do love Wellfleet. I've gone to the Wellfleet Oysterfest a couple times and have been to the Beachcomber a few times as well. Wellfleet is definitely a town I could see myself retiring to or having a second home. I'm in my late 20's right now and the Cape just isn't a place for someone like myself. I loved living there but I was due for a change.

[RichCapeCod]

Ronnie:

"...I could see myself retiring to or having a second home. ..."

I agree. Unless you have a specialty or profession that is readily marketable, the Cape can be a tough place to earn a living (especailly the lower Cape~Eastham-Wellfleet-Truro and Provincetown). Quite a few people come here, attracted by the beauty, but find they have to work multiple low paying jobs in order to make it here. Kind of defeats the purpose of living on Cape Cod.

On my street there are (about) seven homes. Only two of them are occupied by working couples (one is a local builder, the other by a man who puts in wood floors).

Rich

[Ronniec78]

Rich,

Yeah it can be very tough. My parents moved to Bourne when I was in college and that's when I fell in love the with the Cape. I actually grew up on the South Shore but didn't go to the Cape much at all when I was growing up. I loved driving down to the Lower and Outer Cape and also enjoyed the Upper Cape and Mid Cape. At one point in my life I never wanted to leave the Cape but being young, single, well eduated, and not having many good options on the Cape as far as a career goes I just got extremely tired of living there. I will say there is a Young Professional's organization on the Cape which is great. Overall, I'm glad I left the Cape at this stage in my life. I would love to get there once in a while to visit but I'm not sure if I'll ever move back before retirement age or ever for that matter. Wellfleet would be a top choice though. I ran into the guy who owns the Bookstore restaurant a few years ago. Kind of a story teller!

[RichCapeCod]

Originally Posted by Ronniec78

... I ran into the guy who owns the Bookstore restaurant a few years ago. Kind of a story teller! ...

If it was an older man he actually was the father of the woman who owns the Bookstore Restaurant and passed away a couple of years ago (in his mid 90s!). He operated the actual bookstore located on the side of the restaurant. If it was a younger guy with a beard, then he's still there and is the son of the owner.

Rich

[Ronniec78]

Rich,

It was the younger guy with the beard. He was a decent guy but he liked to tell stories. I know he drove a Corvette if it's the same guy. I met him about 5 years ago at the Roo Bar in Hyannis. I've never actually been to the Bookstore. The only place I've been is the Beachcomber and some restaurant on Main Street. I think the Windmill?

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

Just a thought on "going over the bridge".
It's not that we're in a rut, or have phobias. It's that, if you go much further north, it's a different world.
Somehow it just doesn't seem as kind and compassionate. I grew up on the North Shore, lived on the South Shore, worked in Boston for a long time. And loved every minute of it.
We treat each other differently here. My kids can spot an off-Cape driver in a heartbeat! Whether from MA, NY, NJ, CT....doesn't matter. AND, they can identify, probably with 90% accuracy, what state they're from before seeing the license plate.
When I stand in line at the market, I can tell if someone's a visitor by how they treat the grocer. In restaurants, by how they treat the server.
Courtesy is part of our lives. We teach it to our children. It's not that courtesy is not practiced elsewhere, it's just a way of life here. We're shocked when someone cuts us off in traffic or doesn't yield the right of way. We're appalled when someone is rude and obnoxious to a cashier or waiter. And it happens often.
My kids are growing up in a great environment, I know my neighbors, and I'll know if one of my kids is doing something wrong within 2 minutes of the event. Much to their dismay. I also know that my neighbors are looking out for me and my children. And my children know that, too.
I have many friends in my old neighborhoods, but they always want to come see me and stay for a while. When I say I'll come for visit, they say "Why don't we come see YOU".
So pardon us if we prefer to live, and stay, in a place where common courtesy and concern for your neighbors is expected, and not a surprise. And we appreciate the fact that we live in a place where so many people drive hours just for a weekend of what we experience every day.

OOPS! I didn't mean to **** you off Cathy. Now I have seen both sides I guess. lol

The over the bridge thing is strange to those who don't live there, I didn't really know what it ment. I just assumed it ment they were afraid to go over a bridge. I didn't know it involved that many Capers either. My family is in Bourne west, already over the bridge. I had no idea it was such a sensitive subject, I thought it was fear of traffic or something. Sorry

[capecodcathy]

Twiggy, I didn't take offense, truly. It takes a lot more than that to **** me off! I have teenagers!
It's a general consensus, though, by people who don't live here, that we don't "go over the bridge" which is entirely not true. Maybe some down-Capers don't but that's just because its a hike for them (an hour or more, depending on time of year and traffic).
Fact is, we simply like it here. You can call us insular, or whatever, but we just like it here.
And I have come to believe that it takes a different, and very special kind of person, to live here. Not better, not worse, we're just different. And I'm proud to be one of them.
By The Way...you Natives tell me I'm wrong, but I'm told I just passed "wash a shore" status in August. I've lived here longer than 10 years. And still love it.
Does anyone have the article on "wash-a-shores". I've been looking for it and can't find it. I believe it was in the CCT.

[Ronniec78]

Cathy,

I don't know your age but if you're 25-45 you should go to some of the Cape Cod Young Professional's meetings. Great place to meet other professional's.

[capecodcathy]

At nearly 47, Ronnie, do you think they'd accept me as an elder stateswoman?

[Ronniec78]

I would say so. They actually have a website. If you google Cape Cod Young Professional's you will see what I'm talking about.