I wasn’t born in Harpswell, but as they say, “I got here as soon as I could.” Of course it’s beautiful. But what really attracted me was the community. I’ve loved meeting and working with people all over town, in all walks of life. It’s the most interesting and the friendliest community I’ve ever lived in.
The variety of experiences, occupations and backgrounds, and the different reasons for being here and for staying here, are what makes Harpswell what it is.
However, as prices rise and as housing becomes unaffordable, we risk losing those qualities that generations have valued — the same ones that attract others to live here. I’m grateful to live in a working waterfront community with the rich heritage and culture that brings, and to live in a town with people at different ages and stages of life. I want to see us preserve this richness before it’s too late. To do that, it must be possible for families just starting out, those wanting to “age in place,” and those at every stage in between to be able to afford to live here.
We can do this without damaging our unique environment with our challenges of groundwater and septic. This doesn’t mean we risk big-scale development! Our environment won’t support it even if we wanted it.
Whether born here or a later arrival, we are creative and determined. We can ensure that we continue to have a diverse population that can afford to be here if we support efforts to have housing that people can afford. I especially appreciate the careful work on this represented in the comprehensive plan.
For those of us who got here as soon as we could, what we can’t afford is to lose the Harpswell that brought us here in the first place.
Jay McCreight, Great Island
