I am biased, but I believe there may be no better view on the island than the one from my window at Lee Real Estate. Our historic building is ideally located right at the corner of Main and Center Street. From my second story vantage point, I get the luxury of looking all the way up Center Street right at the Jared Coffin House and if I peek around the corner I can see almost all the way down Main. I confess, at times it’s easy to get distracted by the people watching and island activity as my window beckons me to sneak a glance outside. Some days, you just never know what you might see.
Last Wednesday as I sat gazing out at the gorgeous sunny winter day, I was mesmerized, as I always am, by the sheer beauty of our downtown. I smiled at the group of young boys, out of school for their winter break, making their way over to the pharmacy for ice cream. I noted the usual business people making their daily trip up the street to the bank. And then I did a double take. At first glance it appeared like a giant dog. But this was no dog. Meandering down the sidewalk on Center Street was a deer…a REAL live deer. She wasn’t running scared nor did she look lost. It appeared she had simply decided to take advantage of this quiet mid-week winter day to pay a visit downtown. I kid you not folks, you cannot make this stuff up.
I’d heard the week the local schools take their winter break the island can become a virtual “ghost town.” Sure enough, as if on cue, there was a mass exodus last weekend as bright eyed kids and parents alike, loaded with skis and sleds or beach bags and surfboards boarded planes and boats and made their way to their favorite winter vacation spot. But the island became less of a ghost town in their absence and more of a very sleepy haven, where those of us left behind had the opportunity to experience the island in her raw glory – deer and all!
During these off-season months, the normally bustling streets in town become virtual walking paths. I love to slip away during my lunch hour and wander up and down the sleepy side streets. More than one evening last week, I left work to discover mine was the only car parked on Main Street – imagine! Some early mornings I walk my dog to the beach and never see another human being. The island often feels like a giant sanctuary. Friends have asked if my husband and I feel isolated or lonely here on this little rock in the middle of the Atlantic as the winter wears on. I assure them it’s just the opposite – the quiet season provides a time of nurturing and refreshment. The fresh ocean air and sheer beauty of this place are inspiring and invigorating. The opportunities to explore and experience all she has to offer are endless.
If hibernating on the mainland has begun to take its toll on you, don’t wait for a warm summer beach day to make your way to Nantucket. Why not plan a long weekend or an extended stay to come experience rejuvenation on the island right now, while it’s still quiet?Several of the great restaurants and shops are still open. You can rent one of our adorable year round cottages tucked along a quiet side street or perhaps enjoy a waterfront unit looking out over the harbor. Bring along a good book and some comfy walking shoes – and don’t forget your camera. You just never know what you’re going to see here in paradise.
Oh deer…
Shellie Dunlap
