At Home on Martha’s Vineyard
Part 2 of a series
2009-08-18
By Skip Finley

There is at least one piece of private property on Martha's Vineyard valued at more than our airport, and over 30 homes that cost more than our one high school - one of which will be in use by our First Family. We chuckle at press reports that lead with that fact. Where exactly is The-Leader-Of-The-Free -World expected to stay, in a guest house in tiny Oak Bluffs?

He's not just another brother-and our elation over his election would at minimum result in embarrassing displays of emotion and most definitely gridlock unlike any ever experienced in a town where only one street is large enough for a U-turn.

Back in America where you are, he is President Barack Obama. On The Rock Barack Obama may as well be The King and he's coming here with The Queen and The Princesses. What are the chances of many of us seeing the First Family this trip? Slim and none. They are too popular, too revered and way too accessible on our large Island with its tiny conveyances. I saw a white guy with a T-Shirt with an Obama logo that read "THAT ONE" on Circuit Avenue last week, so you can just imagine the anticipation of our folks. 82% of us voted and 75% voted Obama/Biden. (The Town of Aquinnah gave 90% of the votes to Obama).

Judging from the gazillion DC, NY and NJ license plates we are used to seeing-hordes more this year-it's clear people are making a significant investment in their own discomfort because not only is Martha's Vineyard hard to find, it's hard to get to and as expensive as Europe. Gas costs at least 50 cents per gallon more and everything else is at least 20% more. The Town of Oak Bluffs has more parks per capita than any town in the world-and three public bathrooms. Almost all Town streets on the Island are one way and lead out of town. Martha's Vineyard may be a sightseers' paradise but it's a gawker's hell. Paparazzi in particular are at great personal risk in a place surrounded by water and unappreciative locals-no, we don't have 'Stars and bars' or even many McCain/Palin bumper stickers-but we have enough yahoos every bit as hard as any in Appalachia and not everyone on Martha's Vineyard drinks white wine.

Weather is usually the first question we get from off-islanders, often prefaced by your suggesting how cold it must be during the winter. It's not. It's an island-as in surrounded by water-and salt water rarely gets colder than 40°. With average wind speed of about 12 miles per hour, the weather is pretty mild. Of course, when the wind's blowing over 35mph no one is going to tell you this is the tropics. This time of year the Island has hot days and cool nights, some requiring sweaters. Other times in August, as I write this for example, it's 85 degrees and 85% humidity and no wind to speak of. Bring a raincoat (better, buy one here!), not an umbrella-it'll get blown away. Count on rain-and enjoy it.

Bars close at 12:30, house parties abound. Yes, maybe you can come single and meet someone here-you're sure to be the one. Meet people on the beach-Martha's Vineyard (particularly Oak Bluffs) is just like the Cheers theme song:

"You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name."

The kids your kids meet on The Inkwell are going to be friends for life. Their parents are usually pretty cool too-and we have lots of other beaches to try.

When you get here, change into something comfortable, don't make any plans, lose the watch and count on a good night's sleep. You'll probably wake up coughing up that air from America because ours is so clean.

Read PART I of Home on Martha’s Vineyard by Skip Finley.

Photo Credit (inside): Yvonne Doggett Rhea
Photo Credit (main page): Courtesy of Skip Finley