Returning from Shelter Island

I am writing this is the lounge at JFK as we return home from Shelter Island. It was with a heavy heart that we left the island this morning, for our tenth trip on the ferry to the mainland. The ferry symbolised to us much that made the holiday unique. The routine of making this beautiful ten-minute journey somehow made the stay on the island a special quality and certainly bookended our days.

Last night we went to our favourite restaurant in Greenport, Noah’s, we have consistently eaten fabulous seafood there. I often think that a New England restaurant should be judged on the quality of its clam chowder, Noah’s certainly passed muster. Returning in the dark was a surreal experience; we appeared to be gliding on nothing.

The packing was not too arduous and our suitcases not too heavy. We caught the ferry to Greenport and hade a good breakfast at a local café. Then it was the slow drive back to the airport, luckily we had left plenty time as the traffic was heavy and we had to purchase petrol at the airport. A comment one of the things that are difficult in the US is filling your car with gas, particularly if you want to pay cash. You have to go to the cash desk, give them money, fill the car and then return for change.  As if to see us off the car registered 81 degrees of heat as we left it at Avis.

So back home to a busy autumn and a true new chapter in our lives. This is now retirement central, there are no distractions and we both need to give it all that we have. It is daunting in a way that last year was not. Then I was worried about how I would fill my time, now we are fully organised the challenge may well be being organised and fitting everything in. Well it starts on Monday and I will report back.

It is also a poignant return as it is almost a year since my mother passed away. October will bring several reminders of this.