Seasonal Mainer adjusts to the South
About this blog:
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Frank Barnako is a seasonal resident of Wiscasset at Clarks Point on the Sheepscot River. His career in journalism included on air and news director positions with CBS and NBC Radio and TV stations. He was a pioneer in the Internet, helping to create and co-found MarketWatch.com where he also developed a 200-station radio network and wrote daily columns focused on the stock market, business news, and technology. Barnako describes himself as “an aspiring photographer,” whose work can be seen at frankbarnako.com<http://frankbarnako.com>. He is a member of the town’s Investment Advisory Committee. Email him at wiscasset@barnako.com.
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Hilton Head, SC -- It's a quiet Sunday on the island, where we have been for about three weeks since leaving Wiscasset on a rainy Saturday. That means we we missed the drive-thru Halloween at the Community Center. Bob Bond shot cute pix of the goblins. Maybe next year.
It's been a couple weeks of 're-entry' to this community, to which we moved two years ago. Which, in case you didn't know, is a pain in the keister. Sometimes it feels like one doctor's appointment after another as we catch up on checkups. Don't forget house maintenance issues, too. While we may not be here, over four months while we are in Maine, stuff can happen back in Wiscasset. It seems there are so man y service calls (exterminator, alarm, cleaners, etc.) that I think I should list some of these guys as dependents on my tax returns.
As in Wiscasset, the real estate people here say the business is very active. One agent here said he's seeing would-be buyers from the west coast, people who have been affected by the fires and have decided they want to relocate. That's the same kind of thing Sheri Dunbar at Tim Dunham Realty, was saying in Wiscasset just a few weeks ago.
There were a couple art events this week. Hilton Head's version of the Wiscasset Art Walk occurs on the first Thursday of the month. Donna exhibited and sold a few jewelry pieces. And Jeff Keefer, an island photographer, showed a music video he produced with singer-songwriter Sara Burns. It features Keefer's astrophotography.
Covid continues to be a concern here, too. With the end of summer, the number of visitors and tourists has been less. The state has pretty much permitted restaurants and bars to operate at full strength, but it seems like 95% of people are wearing masks and distancing.
The highlight oof the week was having dinner with friends and playing Name That Tune. There were teams, eight people at each table - max of about 45 people. I confess I was nervous about such an event - people, congregating, singing, applause, etc. My main contribution to our team was identifying a song by the Association.
Right now, a neighbor across the street is working in his yard. Looks like he's spreading mulch, maybe some planting. Why is this notable? Because it's the first time, in two years, that I've seen him without a MAGA hat.
See, we can all get along!
