I’ve noticed it for years in Wiscasset and if anything, it seems to only get more so: Whether visitors or residents, when people are here, they enjoy engaging one another.

I was taking notes in Sarah’s Cafe Saturday night at the restaurant’s Halloween party, when a man motioned me over to the bench where he and his wife were waiting for their table. They’re the New York couple in our story on the event.

He told me, the Mets need left-handed pitchers.

I explained, I can’t really pitch.

“Neither can they,” he said.

We talked a few minutes until their table was ready. I even learned the Tappanzee Bridge my mother, sister and I used to use on our bowling trips is gone now. This man who could have just noticed a reporter was a southpaw and thought no more of it, had instead chosen to make a fun conversation for all.

Does Wiscasset have this effect on people? Or does Wiscasset attract fun, engaging people to dine or spend other time there, like they do at the art walks and other events year round? Based on visitors’ comments about the town in interviews over the years at those establishments and events, it seems to be both.

Sharon Jacques attended the Sarah’s event as part of her and daughter Haley’s first Halloween since husband and father Corey Jacques’ death. Showing the handcuffs hanging from her wrists, Jacques, dressed as a border patrol officer, said if Corey had been there, he would have been in prison stripes and in the other ring of the handcuffs. Halloween was his favorite occasion because it was the funnest, she said.

She said she was there because it was important to keep living as normally as possible, especially for her daughter’s sake. Haley, 8, was there in the children’s area as a silver Avenger.

They are another example of a trait I’ve also mentioned here before, Wiscasset’s resilience. It keeps on going, even when just going through the motions is hard, because Wiscasset does the right thing.

Writing this as this week’s storm rages over inland Lincoln County, and one week before our towns and Maine head to the polls for the latest important decisions, I feel someone’s looking at me and up over my left shoulder I see my mare Sunshine quietly but persistently asking for her next carrot. Over I go with it.

Good things like horses or a Halloween party or a New York customer at Sarah’s recruiting you for the Mets are grounding. They remind us, no matter what comes next, we’ll keep going. This awareness helps us through a storm or an election.

What keeps you going? I’d like to hear what motivates you to persevere, at susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com