Real Maine: Reality Check; Part 1

When I talk to people about Maine, it's usually about all the things you can do here.  Shop, eat, hike, bike, relax, swim, boat, and we'll do our best to accommodate whatever else you can think of.  But like everywhere in the world, there are truths and fallacies.  I have compiled a listing of some common misconceptions about Maine and the realities that real Mainers know.  

True:  there are moose in Maine

False:  moose are everywhere

No, moose are not running rampant throughout the state.  We don’t all have them wandering into the backyard barbeque or holding up traffic downtown.  Yes, there are moose here.  In fact, in some places, like Moosehead Lake (hence the name) and in the Katahdin region and in the space between like the 100 mile wilderness, they say moose outnumber people.  I live in the city, albeit a small city, but in my daily travels here I don’t encounter moose.  When I was growing up in southern Maine, there was a family legend about a moose trotting up into the yard one morning, very early, and peeking in the windows.  There was also a story about a moose on the golf course in Bangor during a tournament, but I’m not very clear on that one.

If seeing a moose is on your bucket list and one of the goals of your visit to Maine is to cross that one off, you will want to be certain that you will see a moose.  I suggest that you contact one of the great outfits that offer moose safaris or moose photo tours.  Here's a couple to get you started: Moose Photo Tours or Maine Moose Safari.  Google "moose tours" or visit the websites for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce or the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce.  

True:  you can visit the beautiful beaches of York and Ogunquit and you can have a great lunch in Boothbay Harbor overlooking it all and you can go on a whale watch from Bar Harbor.

False:  you can do that in one day

I read the reviews and forums on TripAdvisor.com and on Frommer’s to name a couple and I’m astounded at what people think they can accomplish in one 24 hour period in Maine.  People seem to believe that they can just “hop” off the interstate and “pop” into Boothbay Harbor for a quick bite.  That “hop” can take hours in the summer, with traffic backed up for miles and the “pop” can mean some time waiting for a table or finding a parking space.  I’m not trying to discourage visitors – just trying to manage expectations.  Maine may be a place you can get away from it all in spirit but many parts of the state are just as busy as urban areas around the country.  Just be realistic about it and have a good, relaxed time.  You can leave your uptight suit at home.  Know we’ve got traffic and waiting for a table at a good restaurant just like you have at home.  Also know that most people here will wave you into that traffic and that the restaurant you’re going to eat at has seafood that was caught this morning.  The people are what makes the difference here. 

 

True:  you can eat lobster and blueberry pie every day of your Maine vacation

False:   don’t bother coming if you’re not into lobster or blueberry pie

Maine is carefully crafting a culture of culinary excellence.  Back in the late 90’s Bon Appetit magazine declared that Portland, Maine had more restaurants per capita than any other city in the US.  Since then, the food scene here has just exploded in a great way.  The farm to table movement is big here, as is the boat to table concept.  Every season offers something fresh and delicious.

The Maine Restaurant Association's website can give you listings of where you can eat in the part of Maine you are visiting.  They have a great new app that you can use while you're here to make decisions, make reservations, and make your trip mouthwateringly awesome. 

 

True – you can drive 75 miles per hour in Maine

False – that starts at the border

There’s a show that I’ve attended in my role as marketing person for our tourism region. It’s called the Big E or the Eastern States Exhibition. It is held each year in West Springfield MA and goes on for 17 days. Each of the New England states has their own building on the Avenue of States. My organization, The Maine Highlands, was, of course, in the Maine building. I’m telling you this because it ties in with my true/false above. Dozens of people came up to the map we had displayed and asked “Where is it you can drive 75 miles per hour?” said with a dreamy, I’ve-got-to-do-that voice. When I explain that the 75 MPH area begins just north of Old Town and I point to where that is – about 3 ½ hours after you cross the border on 95 from NH, they get either a depressed droop of the shoulders or a determined I’m-gonna-go-there-someday look. 

The speed limit was raised last September.  The interstate is pretty darn straight and other than trees and the occasional deer or moose (see above) and the other drivers, there's a pretty clear path.  Here's some info about it from the Bangor Daily News.  The increased speed zone begins in Old Town and ends at the Canadian border in Houlton. 

True – you can visit up and down the coast’s quaint little harbors & coves

False – you can just meander along the coast, weaving in and out of the villages, snapping iconic photos along the way

Maine has 3500 miles of coastline. Do you realize how many “meanders” that is? A LOT! And if something looks like it’s only this far on the map, take into consideration the things I mentioned above, like traffic, and then factor in getting stuck behind a tractor or someone else looking for quaint harbors and plan to see a few in a day. If you actually get out of your car you might enjoy the experience more. Many times has the traveler laden with luggage poked a camera covered eye out of the passenger side window, snapped a photo for their “Maine” scrapbook, and drove off in a spew of dust and rock, anxious to get to the next place. There is a better connection waiting for you if you get out and walk around a bit. Check out the lobster boats and the general store. We’re a friendly lot. You might find something more interesting to take a photo of beyond the typical boats-in-the-harbor (although this is a very popular image, I must admit) scene. Smell the harbor . . . BE the harbor . . ok, I’m kidding there, but really, if you want a Maine experience, get out of the damn car!

True – Mainers have an accent

False – ALL Mainers have an accent

Some do, of course, have that Maine accent that is noted on the bumper stickers about not getting there from here. There are some people who personify the “Mainer” you see in commercials and movies. What you’ll find more than the stereotype is that most of us are like most of you. We like to have fun. We love our kids. We enjoy good food. We want to find some larger role to play in the world. Some of us have French accents from the large influence of French Canadian heritage. Some speak more than one language and those other languages can be Spanish or Sudanese. Or Arabic or Swedish. Just like the rest of the country, we're a mixed bunch of people, some born here and some "from away" who have made the choice to live here.  

The Maine accent is a real thing, but don't expect it from the first person you meet when you come to Maine. You're just as likely to meet someone whose path had led them there as you are to meet someone whose feet first hit the ground here.  For a few years, I worked in an office at the University of Maine in Orono where out of twelve of us, there were only four of us that were born Mainers.  That's only a third.  Everyone else had come here for other reasons.  One moved with her family from New Orleans when she was in middle school, the daughter of faculty.  Another moved here from Rhode Island when her husband's parents were ailing.  Someone else moved from Austin TX to Boston for his education then married a woman who became an economics professor.  My point is that you just never know where we are from originally and what brought us here to Maine.  But you can ask.  And we'll tell you.  And you might find that we have more in common than you originally thought.

Maine Tourism statistics show that 80% of the people who visit Maine the first time come back.  My guess is that they find so much to do, they end up making a list of what to do on their next trip.  Those choices are solidified by the great experiences they have with the people here.

So just come to Maine and see for yourself what we're all about. Visit anytime.

Some websites to help you out:

VisitMaine.com
The Maine Highlands
Visit Bangor Maine
The Maine Beaches
Maine Camping Guide


Send me your comments and your Maine "truisms".  I'll make it part of my Part 2 of this series about the real Maine.


   

FREE STUFF!

Who can resist free stuff?  It seems foolish to pass it up, right?  Who couldn’t use another rubber jar opener or keychain or tote bag? 

Me.

A year ago you wouldn’t have heard me say that.  I’ve always loved the little freebies.  As this year has rolled on, I’ve done some work related traveling that took me to different consumer shows – travel shows, travel industry events, shows sponsored by magazines and newspapers – and at all of these, people flock to the tables with the free stuff.  Everyone grabs something.  I would stroll by them, glace at the table and the grinning salesperson (I assumed), and try to graciously snag whatever item was up for grabs.  After one show, I can home with a large, heavy tote bag, loaded with brochures and catalogs of places I want to visit someday and  . . . . wait for it . . . more tote bags!! Flash drives, bottle holders, lots and lots of pens, magnets, clips, small notepads, and water bottles.

The lure of free stuff extends beyond the giveaways at trade shows.  That’s marketing.  It’s meant for you to take and use and maybe remember the business when you need a limo to the airport. 

But the free stuff isn’t really free.  It comes with a cost.  For that travel show where I got all the stuff, the cost was an aching back and shoulder from carrying it around, the loss of time and space trying to figure out where and how to store this “reference” material, and just another square foot of my home filled.  Is this what I’m paying the mortgage for?

George Carlin used to say that our homes are just a place for our stuff.  My stuff happens to fill up a two story Cape style home with a basement and garage.  We pay the mortgage to house this stuff and what of it do we actually need? 

These thoughts come to mind a lot lately.  I’ve been reading books about minimalism and seriously considering what surrounds me and the associated costs.  I’m not talking the monetary costs, although that is a part of it, but the costs to psyche from the added stress of maintaining the stuff, storing the stuff, and shopping for more stuff. 

There are a whole bunch of people out there who write about the joys of less stuff.  Who would have thought?

Some of the books I’ve read recently include:

Miss Minimalist – Inspiration to downsize, declutter, and simplify by Francine Jay

This is the one that started it.  I was in my hotel room in New York with my Kindle and somehow searching for “simplify my life” brought me to her book.  It inspired me in that she kept reminding me that less stuff means more travel, and I like travel.  I did find her a bit extreme, though, and couldn’t imagine living in a space without art on the walls.  Here’s her website:  http://www.missminimalist.com/

Simplify – 7 guiding principles to help anyone decluttertheir home and life by Joshua Becker.  Joshua and his wife were doing what many homeowners in suburbia do, clean out the garage, when it occurred to him that if he got rid of some of the stuff, he’d be able to spend more quality time with said wife and their children.  He wasn’t as extreme, and I think my goal would be along these lines.  Here is his website:  www.becomingminimalist.com

Minimalism - Live a meaningful life  by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus.  Two young guys, friends for years, plodding down the road into adulthood, doing what we’re all told to do, go out and get a job and be successful, but after a few years of “success” – making big money, buying lots of big stuff, carrying big debt – all the while feeling like something’s missing – big time.  They shed their stuff, downsize, get rid of their crap, and now write and lecture about the minimalist lifestyle.  Here’s their website:  www.theminimalists.com.  If you go to Amazon today and tomorrow (June 22^nd & 23^rd, 2012) you can download Millburn’s new book, After the Crash for free. 

How to start a freedom business  by Colin Wright  I love his idea of traveling full time and living wherever the urge takes him.  I’m not sure that I could do that but I’d be willing to try traveling for a while.  I think it’s the idea of not having any roots whatsoever that throws me.  Here’s his website:  http://exilelifestyle.com/

And I liked this post on Julien Smith’s blog:  http://inoveryourhead.net/the-short-16-step-guide-to-getting-rid-of-your-crap/

Especially # 6 . . . I have a spare room like that.  It’s only a place for stuff.  No one has lived in it. 

So this ought to get you started down the road.  Seems odd to suggest you buy more stuff to learn how to get rid of old stuff.  My Kindle is bearing the weight of my purchases.  At least I don’t have 4 (or more!) actual paper books to add to my already cluttered bookshelves. 

Now I’ve got to start getting rid of my crap.  And stop bringing in more crap.  I read this earlier today – sorry but I’m not sure where to attribute it –

It went something like:

Step 1: Rent a dumpster.
Step 2: Put your stuff in it.

The more you let go, the easier it is to let go, and the freer you become.

Things to do in Maine this weekend

Ripped sand at Hills Beach in Biddeford, Maine

It’s summer in Maine – my favorite time in my favorite place to be – and there’s always a lot to do.  I’ve been looking at my calendar and it seems that there are not enough weekends to do everything I want to do. 

I have a family event this weekend but if I didn’t I’d be checking out some of these fun things! 

Some of this weekend’s events include:

1.                  The Annual Lupine Festival, held in Deer Isle – celebrates these vibrant, summertime flowers that bloom in June and make me smile.  More info here:  www.deerisle.com

2.                  Legacy of the Arts Festival, June 17^th in Bar Harbor – Live music, art exhibits, demonstrations and historic tours at a variety of sites around town in celebration of the area’s rich history of art, music, Native American culture and more.  More info here: www.legacyartsfestival.com

Native American handmade baskets

3.                  One of my favorites . . . The Downtown Bangor ARTWALK – it’s a gorgeous day in mid June, the days are long and you can stroll from studio to shop to museum and check out some great art, music, and awesome people.  Look for some of my work available for sale at a few of the shops!  Here’s where you can get more info - Art walk maps listing the participating venues and featured artists will be available at The University of Maine Museum of Art, Metropolitan Soul, and One Lupine Fiber Arts. Additional information can be found at www.downtownartscollaborative.org

4.                  In the Greenville area – join the fun at Moose Mainea, a month long celebration of the area's favorite resident - The Moose. The events include a town wide yard sale, craft fair, kids fun day and more. For info phone (207) 695-2702 or see our Facebook page.

5.                  In Wells - Beach Bike Ride for Charity was founded in 2010 by a pair of Wells resident families and a couple of young sports/technology enthusiasts looking to give something back to the community.  The ride has been a huge success. In it's first year the ride attracted over fifty riders and raised over $8,000. The second year, the ridership doubled with over 100 riders and raised a whopping $11,000 for charity.  More info here:  www.beachbikeride.org

Bike at Casco Bay

 

I know I know, the screens need cleaning and the garden already needs to be weeded and you’ve got to figure out what to do with the patch in the front lawn that the grubs attacked.  There are a million reasons not to go to one of these events, or any of the others that are happening all over the state.  I am running the list through my head right now.   

Obligations and to do’s so often get in the way of the things we’ll truly remember.  Your kids won’t look back fondly at how great the bushes looked when they were young.  They’ll remember the time you all danced under the tent at the American Folk Festival (www.americanfolkfestival.com) or how often you rode bikes to Jimmie’s Ice Cream (North Main St. Brewer) for a cone that melted faster than you could eat it. 

So get up and get out there and have a fun weekend everyone!

Summer is here! A visit to Old Orchard Beach

I love Old Orchard Beach, Maine.  Always a signal of summer’s arrival, a few hours at Old Orchard just spins you right into summer mode.  The vinegary pier fries, the fried dough dusted (very liberally) with powdered sugar and cinnamon, the classic Lisa’s Pizza, it all brings me back. 

Growing up in southern Maine, Old Orchard Beach wasn’t as much a regular thing as you’d think, living only a few miles away.  For my family, with four kids, the cost of the rides and the food made this a twice a summer – maybe – kind of thing.  As I got older and could drive or had friends that could drive, it was where everyone went to “cruise” in the summer.  For many of us, as teens, it was where we had summer jobs and summer friends.  For me, it was the place I had my first record store job and because of that, the place I met my first husband.  

Like everything else, things change.  The town has had some rough times.  But if this past Memorial Day weekend was any indication, this summer won’t be remembered as such.  It will be a good year for Old Orchard Beach.

My daughter and I had a few hours to spare on Sunday of that weekend.  The weather was beautiful – warm, sunny – kind of a surprise at the end of May.  We decided to go “down the beach.”  I wanted to get some photographs from the top of the ferris wheel and my daughter just wanted to ride it.  One of the great things about the amusement park at Old Orchard Beach, called Palace Playland, is that you can buy just enough tickets to ride one ride, or in our case, three.  You don’t have to pay the big money for the whole day.  You don’t have to pay to get in.  You don’t have to pay if you don’t ride.  Easy.  Good for parents with kids.  If your kids are little and you’re not sure if they’re going to even want to ride, you get just enough tickets to find out.  If your kids are old enough and can ride by themselves, but still need some supervision, you can go and not pay for the privilege of that experience. 

So we rode the ferris wheel . . . 

from the top of the ferris wheel

looking west towards Saco

looking east toward Scarborough

Old Orchard Beach's main drag:  Old Orchard Ave.

And the “Superstar” – the scrambler ride you see at every fair.  And the little roller coaster, the Galaxi – not sure why, since we’ve ridden the big ones at Busch Gardens, Six Flags, and Cedar Point – but it’s been a while since we’ve had a roller coaster ride, so why not?  I’m not trying to compare Palace Playland to any of those parks.  It’s a totally different thing.  It just felt good to be flung and lifted and dipped and spun after a long winter. 

We walked around a bit then up the street.  Now I’ve seen the fried food options at some of the big fairs – fried twinkies, friend snickers bars, heck, I even saw fried butter and fried kool aid (don’t ask) last year.  Interesting as they might be, I’m usually watching what I eat and don’t want to part with six bucks for a fried twinkie when that could buy me two boxes of them (not that I would).  

But . . . we found fried oreos.  And they were only $1.00 each.  So we got three.  Powdered them up and then took them to the beach to eat.  They looked like squashed donut holes and when you bit into them, the cookie was warm and the creamy center, melted.  

fried, well, everything

deep fried oreo cookies with powdered sugar

creamy and melted on the inside . . this could be a new tradition

Old Orchard is a nice little community.  There are plenty of hotels, condos, shops and restaurants to support the large influx of tourists that come during the summer.  Visitors come from Quebec and New England and from all over Maine. 

Beyond the fried food, pizza, ice cream, and caramel corn . .beyond the lights and the rides and the games is . . The Beach. 

Go for the beach!

At low tide, the beach is flat and wide, great for running or playing games.  It’s clean and the sand is soft and powdery east of the pier.  Music is playing from the beachfront bars.  Seagulls and terns dip in and out of the tide.  Kids play in the sand.  Groups of teen girls lay on their towels.  Families and couples set up for the day with coolers and umbrellas. 

A short walk away is a carousel ride and a slushie drink.  What could be better?

For travel information about Old Orchard Beach and the Maine Beaches check out these websites:

The Maine Beaches 

Old Orchard Beach

Be Celeste

In Gretchen Rubin’s bestselling book, The Happiness Project, the author’s research on the subject of “happiness” leads her to discover things in her life that with a few small changes, would not only make her happier, but influence those around her. 

She sets about to focus on different aspects of her life each month and uses a list of her self devised commandments as guidelines.  The very first is “Be Gretchen.”

I love this idea.

So how do I “Be Celeste”?

A question of this sort, whether you are Celeste or Jane or Liz or Gretchen, requires an examination of self.  I have to know who “Celeste” is and sometimes that’s a difficult assignment.  The study of self is as old as human consciousness.  Since the dawn of self awareness the question has been raised.  But I don’t need to concern myself with who found out what about themselves in the history of the world. 

I have only one subject:  me. 

You have only one subject: you.

Celebrating a birthday is an annual milestone that always makes me take stock in what I’ve accomplished in the past year and what I hope to achieve in the coming year.  Accomplishments and achievements are part of what makes me, me.  My style of dress, my sense of humor, my dreams, my home, my tendency to procrastinate, and my desire to perfect the recipe for guacamole are all me.  For Mother’s Day, my husband and daughter got me a Vera Bradley bag – Reality:  I went and picked it out – limey green and aqua flowery swirly and I love it.  When I showed it to a friend, she said “it’s Celeste”.  I took it as a compliment.  But was it?

But what is, and who is, and how do I – how does anyone – determine what is you?

I think Ms. Rubin’s point was that when it comes down to it, be true to you.  Remember who you are and what makes you happy each day.  Those points will change daily and look totally different for each person.  Don't force yourself into a shape that doesn't fit you.  Accept that you just don't like everything you think you should.  Trying to be someone that you're not is a key ingredient in dissatisfaction. 

There are things in my life that I really wish I enjoyed;

I wish I liked sports, so that I could have this common interest with my husband, but really, I don’t like sports.  Forcing myself to sit and pay attention to some ongoing commentary about something that I don't care about goes against my nature.  If I recognize that and not feel badly about it, I will be a happier person.

My daughter loves sushi.  I’m an adventurous diner and have tried it on many occasions and I just don’t like it.  I wish I did.  I think the artistry and the culture of sushi is very cool and I would love to claim that as something I enjoy, but I don’t.  Be Celeste.

Trying to be someone I’m not will lead me to resentment and frustration.  That’s not a place I want to be.  I have to be Celeste.  Just because I truly don’t enjoy some things doesn’t make me less of a person.  In fact, it leaves room for other interests that I do enjoy, like writing and photography, cooking and eating, collage, cool earrings, pink flamingoes, seltzer with lime, exploring new places, hot summer days, the smell of fresh basil, peppermint and coconut, cat’s paws, Jimmy Buffett music, sleeping late and reading a good book.

Maybe we’d all be happier if we recognized that as individuals living in this time, in this place, we have tastes and expectations that differ from other people’s and embrace the differences rather than try to change ourselves or fight about them.

If you like the idea of examining what makes you happy, I recommend reading Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project”. 

More info can be found here:  http://www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/

. . .  if you like that sort of thing. 

Blog feature! Yay!

Well, well!  Happy to return home and find that one of my photos has been featured in someone's blog!

Check this out:  Angel Leigh Designs


I love that people find my work and include it in theirs.  Its it epitome of sharing.

Fun, Food, and the Fabulous in Fort Lauderdale



Fort Lauderdale is known as “The Venice of America” because it has over three hundred miles of navigable canals that are part of the intracoastal waterway.  Prior to our recent visit, I had read about the system and was curious about it.  A local travel agent told me that we could take a water taxi and get a great tour of the area.  So on our last full day in Fort Lauderdale, we hopped aboard.  An adult unlimited pass is $22.00 and a child’s unlimited pass is $13.00.  This allows you to get on and off as many times as you want in one day.  Our plan was to ride from the marina near our hotel and get off at Las Olas Boulevard to have lunch and do a little shopping, the climb on again for the ride back.

Well, it was quite a tour!  Each boat has a captain who drives and a narrator who speaks over the intercom system, telling stories and a history lesson along the way.  Ours was quite entertaining and engaged the passengers, making it a really fun way to get from one point to another. 

The homes along the intracoastal, are the homes of the wealthy.  Some were the homes of  celebrities and others belonged to business moguls, homes bought and sold for millions. 

Here are just a few . . .

This sprawling estate goes on to include a dozen buildings, each aquired as they were sold by neighbors.

Kind of a White House on the water.

Note the sculpture on the lawn . . a fortune cookie.  This is the property of the P.F Chang dynasty. 

The million dollar mermaid fountain.

The oh so casual outdoor bar and hot tub.

The whimiscal dancing frogs at water's edge.

This little number belonged to Sonny & Cher when Chastity was born. 
The story was told that the neighbor on one side was the inventor of Alka Selter and on the other side the Seagram's heirs, so everyone could have drinks and music and be medicated in the morning. 

Along with the waterfront living comes the need for suitable transportation.  I don’t imagine you could like in places like these and ride around in a pontoon boat.  No . . .

You need a yacht. 

This one belongs to the Yankee Candle folks.  It's named "Parafin".  How cute. 

In some cases, a megayacht. 

Supermodel Elle MacPherson's little boat.

The 78 million dollar yacht belonging to Judge Judy.

Steven Spielberg's 235 million dollar yacht. 

We got off the water taxi at Las Olas Boulevard.  I had read about the district famous for unique shopping.  But we were hungry for lunch and were thrilled to see a restaurant that specialized in crepes.  We love crepes!  My French Canadian Memere made some awesome crepes, but they were simple, and we ate them with brown sugar and maple syrup.  The crepes at La Bonne Crepe on Las Olas, were anything but simple.  An incredible selection of stuffings and toppings was on the menu.  My daughter ordered the banana split crepe and I went savory with the tomato and basil crepe.  They were delicious and reasonably priced.

Banana Split crepe

Tomato, basil, crisp crepe . . delicious!

For dessert, as if a banana split crepe calls for dessert, we had gelato from the Italian bakery Pane’ Dolci.  Smooth and creamy and cold, we stood outside in the sunshine to eat it. 

My salted caramel gelato

Gelato like artwork in the cooler.

We stopped in a few shops but quickly found that Las Olas shopping was not meant for people on a budget.  At one store I picked up a cute pink tee shirt, held it up to show my daughter and quickly put it back when I saw the price tag; $98.00.  For . . . a  . . . tee . . . shirt.  Gulp. 

 

Soon we found the way back to the water taxi stop and sat in the grass while we waited.  Late afternoon sun streaked across the water as the yellow boat pulled up to the dock.  Again we saw the yachts and homes and heard the stories about Sonny & Cher and the inventor of Alka Selter.  Again we passed Spielburg’s yacht.  Finally back to the dock near our hotel and I was exhausted from the walking and shooting and eating and from the feelings of frustration that arise from the thoughts of equity and social justice . . and living a life of limitation. 

While I enjoyed, in a voyeuristic sense, this glimpse into the lives of the rich, famous, lucky, and ostentatious, it certainly brought to mind the huge gap in our society between these homeowners and the homeowners in my little middle class neighborhood in Maine, and even more when you consider how many people struggle to keep the roof they live under.  It prompted questions about the curious connection between celebrity and wealth.  Why does that job – acting in movies, for example, pay so much more than another job?  What is our pay scale based on?  It can’t be based on the value of the contribution to the general good, or the importance in a human sense of the job’s end result.  Why in the world does Judge Judy make 45 million dollars a year, making her able to afford a yacht that costs 78 million dollars?  Why is her job – a television judge – more valued than the job of a drug and alcohol counselor who helps people get clean and sober?  Why does that counselor have to settle for the low pay when there is such unfathomable wealth in other sectors? 

I haven’t involved myself in the 99% vs. 1% fight that’s going on out there in the country, but if there was any time I’ve felt fired up about the discrepancies in income it was after that water taxi ride and the exposure I had to that other side of the golden coin.

When I step back into my cozy little home with my family and take a moment to appreciate the wonderful life I have, I can’t see where a big house on the water could make this any better.  I don’t see where a yacht fits into the picture. 

Ok . .  maybe a small one could be worked in right over . . . there.     

Appreciate the simple things . . .