The businesses and streets of the Boothbay Harbor and Wiscasset regions have been busy since the end of June. For those of us who live here year-round, it may be an inconvenience at times when people stand in the aisles at the store, talking or gawking, while we're in a hurry to get things done. Or we wait behind the wheel, ready to blow the horn, while that car in front of us decides whether it needs to go left, right or continue on.

It is frustrating at times, but having seen the lean times during summer vacation season, it is nice to see that visitors are once again visiting and enjoying the fun, food, festivities and beauty this region has to offer.

This spring and summer, I've met up with a couple of friends, one new and one long-time friend, who only get to enjoy the region for a short while during the summer. Each friend lives in one of the summer colonies in the Boothbay area during their visit and both, again, have expressed their appreciation for being able to enjoy the region. And they can't wait to get back here as often as possible.

Our conversations got me thinking about appreciating what we have here more often, and less about waiting longer in the check-out lines or waiting patiently while that car takes its time at the intersection. I think of the generations of families who have enjoyed their old homes and get to relax for a while before having to return to the hustle and bustle of jobs and school in parts of the world that have a lot more traffic and a lot more people than we have here. It makes me happy to see these people being happy while they are here.

In a couple of more months, the streets and stores will be much quieter. As year-round residents, we will be able to take a leisurely Sunday afternoon ride around Ocean Point, Spruce Point or other scenic locales. I am going to take the time to do that more often and view it through the eyes of our visitors. It will help me better understand why our visitors come here.

We are blessed.