Credit for the inspiration for today’s column goes to Kent Gonzales. Thanks, Kent!

I recently had the opportunity to stay briefly in another part of Sprucewold – up the hill from the Birch Road cabin that has been my summer get-away for more than 40 years. My sister was in town and there were too many of us for the cabin, so my family rented a Linekin Heights cabin on Crest Avenue for the “extras.” It was there that I realized that not all Sprucwold experiences are the same. Where you are located influences summer in Maine.

Take the birds, for example. On Birch Road the familiar birds include osprey, great blue herons, terns, gulls as well as the birds that frequent the feeder, including juncos, tit mice, chickadees, nut hatches, and an occasional house finch. On Crest Avenue, tucked into the beautiful woods, the soundscape of birds was greatly expanded. My Merlin app identified some birds that I was familiar with, but additions included cardinal, blue-headed vireo, pileated woodpecker, red tailed hawk, barred owl, wood thrush and maybe even a hermit thrush.

It wasn’t just the birds that were different. On Birch Road, we are oriented to the sounds of Linekin Bay. In the early morning, this may be lobster boats hauling traps, fishing boats netting pogies, or early morning kayakers who may not know that their “private” conversations carry quite clearly over the water. On Crest, the morning sounds come from Boothbay Harbor waking up. I could hear the lobster boats starting their engines often before the sun rose. The bells from the Catholic Church were clear, and at sunset, I often heard the cannon from the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. Being aware of Boothbay Harbor being so close sent me back to Rusticators in Sprucewold to be reminded of the spectacular view that the cabins on Crest Avenue once had of that harbor.

This all has caused me to think about the many and varied experiences we have in Sprucewold and the different reasons we come. Some come for the increased chances to visit with family and friends both here and from away, while others likely come for the solitude and the opportunity to escape the busyness that occurs with big groups. People come to get away from devices, read books, walk more, catch up on sleep, or maybe get up early to experience a full day in Maine. I have a goal to swim every day when I am here, and I know of others who have never jumped into the Maine waters. Are you someone who likes to explore other beautiful places in Maine – farther Down East or maybe inland? Perhaps you do not leave the peninsula for a full eight weeks? What is your favorite flavor of ice cream from town? Chocolate sprinkles or rainbow? We all have our reasons to make the journey up Route 1 every summer to experience our familiar version of a summer in Sprucewold, and we all have important memories to carry back to sustain us until next year.

If one of your goals is to gather together with others in Sprucewold (and we hope it is), please remember the events on Saturday, Aug. 5. The Sprucewold annual Potluck will be held on the Green at 5:30 p.m. (please note the time change from 5). If one of your summer ambitions is to find a new recipe from our Cabin Cookery cookbook, or another favorite, this is your chance! We are throwing caution to the wind this year and inviting everyone to bring a dish to share of their choosing. No assignments. Perhaps we will have a table full of deviled eggs or, better yet, all desserts. I can guarantee that it will be good – Sprucewolders are noted for being excellent cooks and bakers. The Association will provide drinks, paper goods, and flatware. As always, if you can bring your own dishes, that will be appreciated.

Upcoming meetings include the Linekin Heights Association meeting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 5 on the Green, the Sprucewold Annual Meeting at 10 a.m. also on the Green, and the Beach Club Meeting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 12 at the Catholic Church. Beach Club President, Elisa Goldsmith, would like to remind you to vote on the proposed bylaw change if you have not done so already. Please talk to Elisa or another Beach Club Board member if you have any questions.

As I write this column, with the southern wind filling in, a paddleboarder just went by the dock. “What a lovely community you have here,” she remarked. I am not sure what she had seen, heard, or experienced that has caused her to make this statement, but I could not agree with her more.