Everyone has his or her own opinion on when spring or summer begins, aside from what the calendar may say.

For some, summer doesn’t really start until July 4. Others believe that Windjammer Days marks the true beginning of summer. Still others consider Memorial Day weekend as the true indicator that summer is here.

We have a different opinion. For us, Fishermen’s Festival marks the turning point locally. While it’s not officially summer, it tells us that the worst of our winter weather is over and our entire Midcoast area begins to spring into action.

The classified pages are filled with help wanted ads as area businesses begin lining up their seasonal employees. Motels, restaurants and shops are busily making last-minute preparations for reopening, and some have already thrown out the welcome mat in time for the busy weekend.

Moorings are put in place or given a safety inspection, floats go in the water, and boat owners begin readying their vessels for the season.

By late April or early May, when we experience acceptable weather like this past weekend (not necessarily sunbathing temperatures but at least warm days filled with sunshine) our summer visitors begin showing up at their homes and cottages, getting their water turned on, restocking their shelves and getting out the deck furniture.

To us, this spring festival always marks our rebirth. That’s not to say that we roll up our sidewalks in the winter; but, it’s pretty safe to say that activities slow down substantially, and making a dollar is often very difficult.

We’ve never understood how some of our local establishments manage to hang on in the dead of winter and continue to serve us even though it often costs them money to keep the heat and lights on. This time of year, we’re all praying for good weather and our fair share of early season visitors to help boost our local economy,

Some will argue, and rightly so, that winter isn’t all that bad, because it gives both business owners and their employees a breather of sorts, a break from the crazy days of summer, when everyone has to try to earn every dollar possible to tide them over through the lean months.

The offseason allows us all to get to know one another again, socialize on occasion, and do those things that are more difficult during the busy summer months.

Tourist towns are different, no doubt about it. Like Maine’s ski resorts in winter, it’s full speed ahead for us in summer while potential customers are around.

We all hope that the 2013 summer season will be prosperous for our Midcoast communities; and will attract new visitors from far and near who will discover what a great place this is to live, work and play.

We always like to tell people that we’re fortunate to be in vacationland all year long, not just for a few weeks or days in the summer

We’ve had our slow time; now it’s the season to begin to get out and around and patronize some of our summer business friends, not forgetting those who were here when we needed them during the cold and snowy months we’ve just put behind us.