Notes from Maine - 2021/04/10

One of the nicknames for Maine is Vacationland. That’s what it was when I was a kid. This was the place where we would come for vacations. My grandparents had a house in the woods and there was a lake to swim in and boat on. When we came up here, our first priority was to enjoy the sun and water. If it was raining or cold, we would have to find other things to do. But when the sun was out we would be down at the lake.

As soon as I finished college, this was the one place I wanted to come. As far as I was concerned, Maine was the place where relaxation was the top priority, so that’s where I wanted to live all the time. Of course it’s impossible to vacation where you live. You can’t exactly leave behind every other obligation when they’re all around you. 

I moved here and found out that I had to go to work even when it was sunny. I had to mow the lawn even when the weather was perfect for swimming. Then, I discovered something horrible. I discovered that I actually got more satisfaction from painting a fence than I did from taking a boat ride up to Day’s store for ice cream. It’s like discovering that you like the taste of broccoli more than chocolate cake. 

It feels like a waste to live in Vacationland and to not prioritize all the vacation activities available to me. Sure, I could go to the beach every day, but when would I have time to build new cabinets for the kitchen? What would I have to show for it at the end of the day? I could go snowboarding, but my chores will be waiting when I get home.

I can’t tell if my priorities are all skewed or if I finally have them correct.

I guess this is why people go away for vacation. When you leave everything behind and get some distance, I suppose it’s possible to let all that go. But where would I go? I already live in Vacationland. Also, with horses and dogs, it’s nearly unthinkable for me to actually enjoy time away from the house. I am preoccupied with their wellbeing the whole time.

I guess it’s a good thing I really enjoy spending time here.

A few years ago, I wrote a book called Fiero’s Pizza. It’s a lousy name for what I think is a pretty good book. I set the book in a Maine farmhouse and nearly every moment of that book takes place on that property. I wanted the world of Fiero’s Pizza to completely revolve around that house. Everything else is like a rumor. That’s the way I feel about my house. This is the one real place. When I’m away from home, I just want to come back. This house is my Vacationland.