In early 2018, my husband Michael and I made a spur of the moment, but at the same time carefully considered, decision to move from our 20-year home in Stonington up to “the Quiet Corner.” There were many reasons for this choice ranging from the cost of living on the Connecticut shore to the desire for a quieter, less frenetic way of life. There was even the element as simple as taking on “the challenge” of relocating from a place where we had sunk deep roots. It is easy to get comfortably settled in a place and moving home is a great way to test one’s endurance for drastic change. When successful, it is a reassuring reminder that you are able to handle whatever changes may come your way.

We are both by profession artists and artisans and because of our self-employed and childless status we were able to relocate relatively easily thanks to our being able to work from anywhere and without the concerns faced by families with younger children. As location was not a limiting issue for us, it became merely a question of where we would like our new home to be. The Quiet Corner came to mind as I grew up here, and while I hadn’t lived here in 20 years, it was an area familiar and dear to me. Michael, while originally from southwestern Connecticut and not particularly familiar with this part of the state was drawn to its quiet existence and calmer way of life.

And then there is the historic home factor …We both greatly appreciate history and we both love historic homes. Our Stonington home, while not as old as our Hampton home, was a small 1932 cape built on a family farm with a history dating back to the early 1700s. While not family members ourselves, we were very much embraced by the family (descendants of the very same family who first established the farm in 1712) and we were gifted with the vast knowledge of history they harbored. We worked very hard to learn everything we could about the property and maintain the house in the original fashion true to its 1930’s era construction.

From the moment we first set foot into what is now our Main Street house we knew immediately that it was “home.” Main Street itself is like a step back in time and the beautifully maintained homes are a wonderful tribute to the Quiet Corner’s long history. We were excited and prepared to take on the responsibility of a long line of both past and future caretakers for our 1870 home.

Shortly before leaving Stonington I was talking with a friend who had taken on the task of relocating several years prior. I remember most clearly her telling me “there are wonderful things and difficult things about moving and you won’t truly understand either until you have done it.” It seemed like an odd thing to say at the time but in retrospect, she was oh so right.

Initially, just the physical reality of packing up a home of 20 years, and two home businesses of an equally long duration, was daunting. It was literally months of preparation combined with the stress of both buying our new home and the necessity of selling our current home. I remember well the sigh of relief issued as the last box of our possessions came through the door of our Main Street home.

Before our actual first night in our Hampton house, I was under the impression that this relocation was merely a move “back home.” I grew up literally less than seven miles from our new Hampton home and thought of this as “returning to from whence I came.” I quickly realized I was very much mistaken. Hampton, while only a few miles away, is worlds apart from the community in which I grew up. I was born and raised in Mansfield which, in comparison to the small community of Hampton, is a town with a much larger, highly transient population mostly on account of the University. Because of this, one is afforded a fair degree of anonymity. The community was small enough to feel “tight knit” but large enough that you were forever encountering people you did not yet know. Hampton, in contrast, is so small that everyone knows who you are before you introduce yourself. This can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to defining yourself to others, but at the same time it provides a comfort in knowing how close knit this community truly is.

Finding your way in a small New England community is challenging and I think “strangers” are always a bit suspect. But slowly at first, and overtime, we have gotten to know many wonderful people in this magical place who have, in a relatively short period, proven to be a great support. Many of the friendships we have forged here in less than two years are stronger than ones established over 20 years on the shore. Those new ties are a beautiful reminder of the value of small town living and what can happen when people truly reach out to each other.

Laura McCabe