An Island Blog

Mainers commonly seek to extend products past their natural lifetimes and intended purpose, which takes creativity and persistence. This is called Yankee Ingenuity (demonstrated by the proliferation of duct-tape repairs around here). It is the legacy of generations of farmers and fishermen in harsh winters, rough seas, and poor soil.


We're moving into the roughest part of the year, and there's an energy of Girding The Collective Loins. The tourists are gone and one can go about one's mental and physical preparations unhindered.


Wear, tear and decay are part of the natural beauty of this landscape. Maybe the land brings it out in you, but maybe also its an inherited thing. Like how they say insanity is inherited... you get it from your children. I think certain mindframes are reenforced by association (read: inbreeding). The year-rounders are definitely a clannish bunch, and living on an island only adds to it. The land forces us to be creative, but so do our neighbors. Take pride in what you do. Even when its made from duct tape.