Why I Like Living on Nantucket: Mary D. Malavase, Broker

Why do I like living here……. There are many reasons why, but I’ll try to let you know a few.  I guess I’m just a small town girl.  I grew up in a town where both sides of my grandparents were from and thus my mom and dad both grew up in the same town too.  Since both grandparents were in business…one had a coal and eventually home heating oil business and other was a butcher and small grocery store owner….they knew everyone in town.  My family often joked that one kept the town warm in the winter but the other kept them well fed year round. Nantucket to me is that same feeling of community and even more self-contained by the natural  geography of an island.   We all work and live in the same town.  We see each other at the same grocery store, post office, restaurants and church.  We attend the same theaters, school athletic games, museum programs and especially for me, Garden Club activities. We belong to books clubs, craft groups, investment clubs and get together for dinners at friends’ houses especially in the off season just to reconnect and of course, to solve the problems of the island and sometimes the world.    Island residents look out for each other in good times and in bad.  I feel very lucky to live in a place that is so naturally beautiful.  I do chuckle a bit when people ask me where I live and I say Nantucket.  I’m always told…you are so lucky, I’m envious and I think…you are so right.  I truly believe with the privilege of living here comes the responsibility to be a good steward and volunteer for our many non-profits that support island residents year round.   We should be the caretakers of this island and preserve it’s beauty and history.  The truth of the matter is 39 years ago, I came with my husband for a summer job and never left.  I remember the first time I voted here, I was used to candidates running on party platforms.  Here the candidates for our local election are voted on their merit and not what political party they are registered.   Nantucket is truly unique and the community respects the residents for their individual talents as we work to preserve and protect the island we call home. I guess as was said in the old Cheers TV show….we like to be “Where everyone knows your name”.

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