Social distancing, protesting, and other stressors of daily life are some of the reasons we don’t see relief when it’s all around us.

Living on the coast with an abundance of sun, wind, and water, means we have what dreams are made of, and depending on your motivation and ingenuity, you can harness them for your health and enjoyment for a small investment.

These water, sports don’t involve petroleum, you don’t need a trust fund to purchase equipment, or be a star athlete; basically, you select the apparatus of choice, take a lesson or two, and then it’s practice makes perfect.

Here are the facts, and a taste of how people of all ages are approaching the dilemma of being social, getting exercise, and enjoying the great outdoors.

This month’s feature home is extraordinary and is seated at an unparalleled location. Wrapped with a warm, sandy oceanfront beach, a protective retaining wall, and a private harbor entrance, the home has a secure, 70' deep-water dock and slip at Green Harbor in Falmouth. Beyond intriguing, the excitement is palatable over this listing because it is now available for an astute investor.

By Rob Saint Laurent, M.Ed.  

It’s May, and the coronavirus continues to weigh heavily on hearts and minds, as the nation continues to hear of the continuous and inevitable surge in infections.

No one is certain how long social distancing measures will be needed if the proposed national extension of May 4 is rescinded, and so we walk the tightrope of enduring anxiousness.  

Because of the virus’ predicted seasonality, a recent (non-peer-reviewed) study by Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, suggests that unless vaccines, drug therapies, and/or aggressive quarantines can be implemented, intermittent physical distancing may need to extend into 2022 for the US to stay within its critical care capacity.

In the wake of extended social isolation and its fallout to the economy, it is the impact on mental health. A recent March 25-30 tracking poll, by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found 45 percent of Americans now feel an adverse psychological impact from the pandemic—a 13 percent rise from March 11-15.

Even before the coronavirus, the incidence of loneliness had already reached epidemic proportions in the US. A 2018 national survey by Cigna found that at least 40 percent of 20,000 Americans felt their social relationships were sometimes or always non-meaningful, while nearly 50 percent said they sometimes or always felt lonely or socially isolated. Youngest adults were most susceptible.

Meanwhile, as people reel from the uncertainty of lost income with many confined to living in close proximity, there have been increasing reports of domestic violence worldwide.

Because of the unfortunate and untimely arrival of the Coronavirus, we have begun to learn about social distancing, physical isolation, and—quite possibly—the need to retreat to a safe and secure location.

By following these steps, one can significantly lower the chances of contracting the modern-day plague while also offering a quick and easy means for mitigating contaminants.

Caravans of New Yorkers are headed to the Hamptons, for the reasons above, simultaneously, we’ve noticed an uptick—or at the very least, an earlier than usual arrival of homeowners to the hidden summer enclaves of the SouthCoast.

The timing is interesting and gives rise to the question, are homeowners seeing the value of owning along the coastline because it offers unique protection from high-density areas? Perhaps.

This transition makes sense because if you live in a populated urban location, your risk factor quadruples. The majority of cities don’t allow for six feet of space around an individual, so heading to such a beautiful place to be able to live freely is not only desirable but a wise decision.

Having an exclusive compound to escape doesn’t have to be a response to a pandemic; it is useful and serves a multitude of purposes. Primarily, it is an ideal environment to relax and enjoy summers and holidays and the shoulder-seasons with family and friends. Plus, having easy access to Buzzards Bay and a long list of sailing destinations of the northeast, the harbor of Padanarama is the perfect home base.

Regardless of who you are, what you do for a living or your level of interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should be concerned about its far-reaching potential, the harmful results that will follow, and the devastating outcome for a future generation.

Obviously, there are great benefits derived from this new technology; however, it’s essential to recognize that AI is a sharp and dangerous double-edged sword. Now that we have crossed the threshold into Deep Learning—which removes human input to problem-solving equations—our society is forever changed, and our long-term existence remains in question.

The holiday season, followed by winter, is when homeowners spend the greatest amount of time gazing around the house. At the same time, they realize the wear and tear the interior has suffered over the years. In reality, we don’t often look up at ceilings or down at the floors, but, when we do—oh my—the truth is ever-present, and so we scramble to figure out our next steps.

Regardless of the home improvement project you’re considering, and whether you’re handy enough to embark on the ‘do-it-yourself’ journey, or hire a professional, it makes sense to have knowledge of the products available, how they are used, and the proper installation of each type of floor covering.

Dining History
Dinner takes on a variety of forms— a quick bite, party buffet, or getting together with family on a relaxing Sunday. There are also formal dinners when linen, China, and sterling silver are gathered and arranged for the best of friends, out-of-town guests, and clients, all of whom will enjoy and be impressed with your magnificent presentation and culinary talents.

In her essay, Setting the Table, author Evangeline Holland shares some startling facts about the progression of formal dinners, from the Middle Ages (500 AD, after the fall of the Roman Empire) to the turn of the 20th century.

With a long list of seasonal events and festivals, the flavors and textures of home-grown recipes, pickling, and brewing, accentuated by contemporary culture, art, quilting, sculpture—even ice cream manufacturing; visitors will find there’s no shortage of “things to do” once you arrive to the Green Mountain State.

Many people who once visited Vermont now call it home. Perhaps they’re attracted to the state because they can interact with nature and take pride in the quality of life, environment, as well as the principals of sustainability and the preservation of forests and farmlands.

Moreover, many residents point out that the freedom to live your life as you see fit is as much about their lifestyles as neighboring, New Hampshire, whose motto is—Live Free or Die.

Like many of you, we’re always on the lookout for new experiences, and when we were offered to test the new 2020 Buick Enclave Essence ST; our bags were packed before the SUV was delivered.

Once the vehicle arrived, so made an impression. The shiny, new SUV, with only a couple of hundred miles on the odometer, and that sweet new car smell, was a powerful sensory experience. The woodgrain interior—polished bright—perfectly framed the plush cabin and the four luxurious buckets and rear bench seat. Noticeably, the combination of the interior’s exquisite design and tasteful appointments melded well into the practical vehicle loaded with style and elegance.

The new and beautifully trimmed ST class is not only pleasing on the eyes but also all other senses. A prime example of this is how General Motors design teams combined technology, navigation, and entertainment into a fully intuitive and luxury automobile driving experience.

The auto company’s effort to win the race on elevating soundproofing to the next level is evident by its quietness during the multiple surfaces we traveled over seven days. Cabin amenities are spot-on and compatible with the vehicles state-of-the-art functions, which elevates the new Enclave to a level of competition in line with much more expensive SUVs of this class.

The oversized 8-inch touchscreen is bright and centered; when hooked into Sirius XM satellite, rock concert music, talk-programming, and world events are easily accessible by a gentle fingertip or by intuitive controls on the steering wheel. Safety and visibility are stepped up in the new 2020 Enclave, due to a high-def rear camera and surround vision system, keeping drivers alert to those who might not be.

What gets this luxury SUV attention at practically every place we stopped, is its premier crossover style. More comfortable than the nearest competitor, the Buick Enclave’s seats wrap around passengers and engulf them in a luxurious driving experience. Our test vehicle had two expansive moonroofs, lumbar supports, and a stable ride. With the added extravagance of a three-row seating platform, the new 2020 Enclave provides much more convenience than a family would first realize, but later appreciate when venturing on an extended vacation.

The Enclave boasts almost 100 cubic feet of cargo space—seats down—and limo-like room when unfolded and in place. The closest example of what it’s like to take friends out for a ride can be summed up as; thrill ’em, entertain ’em, then bring them out for dinner or cart them up to your ski-house. The event will leave them left with a long-lasting impression of what it’s like to “go in style.”

As for the ride, the Buick, seven-passenger crossover, is smooth and responsive, even though it is a significant sized SUV, it has the agility of a leopard on the hunt; we found this out when driving from Stowe through Smugglers Notch. Along the narrow bolder-lined pass, the Enclave easily took on every type of twist, turn, dip and drop imaginable; the finesse of the vehicle’s soul is uncovered when it transforms into a road-hugging animal. Stable, and purposeful, the Enclave—whether in the wild or when driving in civilization, instills purpose and intent, combined with a solid sense of security.

The Enclave isn’t to be confused with racing-type performance—that will only get you watched by speed enforcement; rather, the 3.6-liter V6, with 302 horses, offers more than enough power to warrant respect by other road warriors, and will get you off the exit and into traffic without worry.

After our extensive touring, a feature that never ceased to impress us was how the 2020 Enclave was never thirsty for a drink. During the week—going from Littleton, NH, to Stowe, then Burlington VT and back to New Hampshire—we only filled the tank once; it was unbelievable. With an estimated 17-25 mpg’s,
we easily hit the top end of the range—maybe exceeding it.

The Buick Enclave Essence ST has a long list of standard features that create an exceptional ride; LED headlights, Bluetooth, Smartphone connections, WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, tons of power equipment, a specialized cabin filter, and supple leather appointments.

The new 2020 Buick Enclave is a premier member of the GM family, and when the ST style package is added to the options list, the enhanced trim level of a sport-type grill, 20" alloy wheels, and other cool features increase the desirability and attractiveness of the vehicle for all generations.

At about $49,780, (our ride), fits into the range of what most families expect to spend on an SUV offering this level of pleasure and options. The combination of interior room, style, and comfort, with a hefty allocation of modern aesthetics, the Buick Enclave Essence is a must-test drive choice when you find yourself in the market for an All-American brand with extraordinary quality and value.