…when Tom at Bullmoose Records in Portsmouth NH says “I’m pretty sure I signed you up for membership last year”

And he’d be right.

When you go to an open air performance of Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors” in Prescott Park in Portsmouth (yes, that’s the water back there..) for $5 each and bump into…

…Maggie Hassan, State Governor talking to constituents. (And which other states – apart from VT and ME perhaps – would elect someone with a name like that?)

When you go to Fort McClary in Kittery ME to watch the flotilla headed by Piscataqua, a gundelow, head out to help raise awareness for a life saving station in the harbour and stumble over a battle recreation involving Brits, Americans and French…

…which develops into a running battle with an enemy vessel armed with a water cannon..

and someone says “Be careful – he’s got an unlimited supply of ammunition..”

Where the local arts festival makes you want to stay all summer.

Where you discover a new restaurant (The Black Birch in Kittery Point) with a beer list that’s as good as any wine list, where the food is stunningly good, where the place is run by the 3 guys who own it (front of house, bar, kitchen), they play classic 1960s/1970s vinyl albums and when you go to pay an $8o+ bill, the bartender (who tells me about a Brazilian guy who’s buying up all the vinyl in the world a day before the story appears in the New York Times) says “It’s been taken care of”

Wha?

“Wasn’t me” he says

“Me neither” says the other guy behind the bar, both looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths

“Don’t worry – It’s a New England thing” he says

I still don’t get it.

And where the barista at Lil’s Cafe in Kittery says “It’s on the house” when you choose a pastry from the display half an hour before closing.

It really must be a New England thing….

Where Lowell’s Boat Shop is still making boats as they did in 1793 (They couldn’t before the War of Independence, because the Crown Forester claimed and marked all trees with a diameter greater than 24 inches)

Where the customers in the Portsmouth Brewery have

a) great t-shirts
b) great taste when it comes to recommending restaurants (“Street” on Islington is phenomenal, thanks Adam)

and where the lady behind the bar says “Hey, you’re back – nice to see you”

I could live here.

Quite easily…..