a shore thing

  I live on the eastern shore of Maryland. That is a general geographic area covering the peninsula of Maryland and Delaware. Mostly it is rural with farms, chicken houses and watermen. It isn't unlike the portion of Long Island where I grew up. I wound up here completely by chance. I had been assigned to a ship stationed in Earle, New Jersey that was going to deploy almost as soon as I reported. The Navy paid to move me of course and all I had to give them was an address. I didn't want my boys living or going to school in New Jersey! Being from long island there was just this natural bias. I also wanted my boys to go to a school that was rural, feeling it would be safer and the education better. My wife was from Maryland, Clearwater Beach, but knew about this eastern shore thing. So, while on leave we went there had a look around and found a home to rent in Greensboro. I've been here ever since. 

 My eldest brother was living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland back then, although I didn't know it when I first looked around. Turned out he was about twenty miles away. I would see him every now and again. It's funny because that twenty miles might as well had been a hundred. It's hard to explain but if grew up on eastern long island in the 1950's and 60's driving a distance of 25 miles was considered a road trip! That was a considerable distance, and, in my mind, it still is. For that reason, we just didn't get together all that often. Looking back, I sure wish I had made more of an effort. But distance wasn't the only factor involved in all of that either. Like everyone else there were family issues and differences. It's only on the Hallmark channel that families come together to "celebrate" each other. Still, more effort should have been made. 

  Having lived here for over twenty-five years now I have seen growth. I wouldn't call it urban sprawl, but things are changing. Many are moving here to live in a rural setting and commuting to those areas where the employment pays better. Hard to make a good living being a farmer, waterman or chicken farmer these days. The taxes and regulations certainly hamper all of that. Same story as all rural America. It's just tough. 

 But with that comes changes as well. Those commuting back and forth soon want what they can get in the larger towns and cities without having to drive that distance. And they start building that larger town or city right here! The old, local folks, the generational residents get pushed to the side. And because it is the eastern shore of Maryland a very popular sales pitch, slogan or whatever you want to call it is; it's a shore thing! If Royal Farms wants to sell fried chicken, that's a shore thing. If you want some fall decorations, it's a shore thing. Everything is a shore thing! The implication being it is something special, unique and local. A source of pride manufactured by retail businesses. 

 I like it here in Greensboro, always have. It is a small town and quiet. Not much going on in Greensboro, nicknamed, "The City" That harkens back to the old days in Greensboro when it was a happening place on a Friday night. I've heard lots of stories about that from the more senior residents I have spoken with. A riverboat used to come every once and while and dock in Greensboro. A big deal from what I've heard. Greensboro had a dance hall and a movie theater. Yes, it was "the city." But that was long ago now. Today there are far more homes in Greensboro, and far less businesses. But the county seat, Denton, is about seven miles away and has all of that and more. It is crawling our way. 

 Easton Maryland is in a neighboring county, still on the eastern shore. They host the Waterfowl Festival each year and that is a big deal. If you are into hunting or fishing or the carving of decoys you most likely have heard about that. People come from all over the country to attend that festival. Easton itself is a rather large town for this part of the shore. It is where the majority of the doctors and lawyers are located. The hospital is there, and all the other clinics and specialties can be found in Easton. It is the hub of commerce. 

 It is an old town and in the historic district the houses face the street, their front property line being the sidewalk, and most of the front porches are only steps from that sidewalk. All of those old houses have large front porches. I can imagine in times gone past people sitting out on them in the evening or on a Sunday morning greeting their friends and neighbors as they strolled along the streets. Today I'm certain no one sits out on those porches, and no one is taking a stroll around town. You don't speak to strangers, and it is best to stay off the streets! In fact, that area is starting to look a little run down, a little tired and worn. Those big old homes are expensive to maintain, most have been divided into apartments, and the only parking is along the street. 

 Times marches on as the saying goes and things change. I can see the changes happening and feel a little sad about that. But that is the feelings of a senior citizen, the excitement of change that you enjoy in your youth fades away. Don't fix what isn't broken is a popular adage, and one I subscribe to. The older I get the more I want to go back. I suspect that is true with the majority of us. For seventy years I have sampled what life has to offer and made my choices. Barring some miraculous occurrence taking place I figure I will most likely remain here in Greensboro. I like to dream about moving to the mountains or to some rural area by a river, lake or stream. But that isn't going to happen without an influx of cash! And that, that is Shore thing as well.