I Love Fall in Maine, But I Hate This Part of It

Yesterday was the last day of summer, and I did something I absolutely hate doing every year: I washed the boat, covered it up, and officially put it away for the season.

And yes, I know how ridiculous this sounds because I LOVE fall.

October is my birthday month. I love cool mornings, hoodies, foliage, campfires, football, all of it. Fall in Maine is arguably one of the best times of the entire year.

But there is something incredibly depressing about putting the boat away.

Boats stored on multi-level racks indoors

All summer long, that boat represents everything I love about Maine summers. Warm afternoons on the lake, cruising around with the family, stopping somewhere to swim, hanging out until the sun starts dropping behind the trees. Then suddenly September shows up, the nights get colder, the water gets quieter, and you realize those days are basically over for another year.

Yesterday I gave her a good wash, got everything cleaned up, pulled the cover tight and stood there looking at it thinking, “Well… that sucks.”

I know I’m not alone, either.

Every Mainer has something they hate packing away when summer ends. Maybe it’s the boat. Maybe it’s the camper, motorcycle, patio furniture or lawn chairs that practically lived around the fire pit all summer.

dried maple leaves

That’s the weird thing about fall. I’m genuinely excited that it’s here, while simultaneously mourning everything that comes with summer disappearing.

So yes, bring on the foliage, apple cider and crisp October mornings.

But I’m still going to stare sadly at that covered boat in the yard for the next seven months.