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Former "Ocean" Person Finds Lakefront Property a Compelling Change

August 07, 2007 - In August we go to camp. In our case, camp is a small cottage in the shores of Long Pond in Belgrade Lakes.

We bought the camp a few years ago after many years of being ocean people, largely basing our ocean excursions from Cumberland on our Mako outboard.

I say we were ocean people, but actually my wife is bipolar. Sally had grown up spending summers at her parents' camp on Sebago Lake. Although she likes the ocean, her heart has remained true to her lake roots.

After much discussion about whether we could afford a summer home and where we should look for one, we settled on the idea of a lake place. For the first few years of our search we thought we would buy a place in the Rangeley area. In fact, at one point we actually made an offer on a nice camp on Mooselookmegunticook Lake. In the end, the two-hour-plus trip each way was just too daunting. I needed more flexibility to come back to Portland or the jetport on occasion.

A friend who lived in the Belgrade area for many years recommended we take a look there. We had tended to view the Belgrade Lakes area as too close to urban areas (Augusta) and too small. However, our friend was insistent and even had a real estate agent call us. We established several specific criteria for our camp search. We preferred, at our friends recommendation, Long Pond as it is the deepest of the Belgrade Lakes. We wanted a camp, not a house, so it had to be simple and unadorned. We wanted to have enough privacy so we didn't feel we were part of the camp next door. Facing west, to see the sun sets, was a big deal for us. We also desired pine trees and no grass to mow.

As you might imagine, it took awhile to find such a place. In a tribute to our real estate agent's persistence, we did find a lovely spot on Long Pond, facing west with lots of pines - and a real camp.

It is a tranquil spot. I'm not quite sure what it is, but, once at camp, a soothing peace descends on us. Perhaps it is the lapping of the water, perhaps is the setting or the loons' cry -- perhaps it is just getting away from the hustle of the city. Whatever it is, it has a wonderfully relaxing effect.

At camp we do many of the things we never get to do at home. We read a lot. We take our canoe across the lake to pick blueberries, we make puzzles, we play Scrabble, or, when our kids visit, Settlers of Catan. In the evenings, we often listen to Red Sox games on the radio.

For diversions we take our small aluminum outboard down the lake to Day's Store. Day's is the heart and soul of Belgrade Lakes Village -- a country store in the old tradition. Day's has excellent beef and chicken for grilling, good corn from a local farm, fresh pastries, and just about anything you need for fishing. They have a virtual armada of friendly local high school grads to supplement their year-round staff.

The village is quite charming, even though it sits right on Route 27. On Sunday mornings there is a farmers' market and just up the road is a wonderful Community Center. The Community Center, built about five years ago, has a lovely wooden porch with rockers where many people come with their computers to take advantage of the free WiFi.

To me, this has become summer in Maine. We are fortunate to have found such a place and to be able now to spend a significant part of our summer here. Occasionally, I do miss the tang of the Maine coastal salt air. On balance, though, I now count myself a lake person.

The state has many wonderful natural resources. Sitting on our deck watching the sun go down reminds us of the treasure we must preserve.

This commentary originally appeared in the Portland Press Herald, August 7, 2007


Lakes: Long Pond
Regions: Sebago, Belgrade, Rangeley, Moosehead, Sanford, Bangor, Katahdin, Embden, Houlton, Lincoln, Jackman, Presque Isle, Allagash, Calais, Mid Coast, Downeast


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