Page 11 - Covlee Drive_13

TOP 10 THINGS WE WILL MISS ABOUT 13 COVLEE DRIVE

1. Growing up barefoot during the summers, rarely coming out of or off of the water. The
swimming, sailing, power boating, and many, many fishing excursions. Also, boating out to
the Westport clamming beds, located in the areas surrounding the end of the channel leading
into the Lagoon from Long Island Sound. When we had lobstering permits, we were able to catch
them in pots right off the float, and from short trips to areas beyond the channel. Fishing trips were
frequent, since my father ran his business from the basement office. But also, he would take breaks
and fish right from the float whenever he saw activity in the water from his office windows.

2. It has always been great having a boat ramp/boat launch right on the property. We could not
only pull the smaller boats out to store them, or to get them out when bad weather was expected, but
friends and relatives were able to trailer their small crafts here to launch for use when we had reunions
and other outdoor-weather gatherings, like summer barbecues and such. Also, our larger, cabin cruiser
was pulled up for the winters and stored right on the ramp.

3. Having the large back lawn made for the best activity spot during most of the year. Even though we
were only about 3-4 miles from Compo Beach, I can't remember ever going there when growing up,
since it never had more to offer than what we had here.

4. I have missed for some years now the number of times I went down to the cabin cruiser to sleep on it
on cool nights, or when we had guests visiting. It was easier than my brother more recently has done,
... setting up a tent in the back yard, to sometimes just be away from the crowd, when he brings his
expanding family for visits.

5. The SUNRISES and MOON-RISES on the Lagoon can be spectacular. Those are amongst the
things I'll remember and miss the most, visually. But also, what was interesting was the vast array
of waterfowl that we would see over the course of passing years. Migrating as well as permanent
residents were always welcome sites.

6. Friends who used to live in the neighborhood, and moved down south, along the east coast,
would sometime come up to visit by boat. At that time, we had electric and water supplied to the
float. So, it was very convenient to have these guests arrive with an "hotel room/extra bedroom or
two", depending on the size of their yacht.

7. I will definitely miss all the fresh seafood that I grew up with, catching or harvesting it with my
family and friends through most of the year. I personally never got into ice fishing, but I know I've
seen others doing that from their docks from time to time, over the years. We had a constant supply
of a multitude of fish, shellfish, and lobster at hand. Sometimes as many as five days per week we
might have some form of fresh seafood.

8. It's a very short drive to the Metro North stations nearby, either South Norwalk (the closest) or
Saugatuck, which was the most often used by friends coming to visit, or for us, for excursions into NYC.

9. When we first moved to the 'COVLEE-ON-THE-SOUND' community, it was filled with an age-mix, but
was mostly young families, like our own at the time. It was a very community oriented group. It grew up
and out with us over the years, but seems to have the age-mix returning once again. It's nice to see!

10. Being part of a community like Westport, with all it has to offer culturally, was also very special. The fact
that there was such an abundance of artistically centered person, it became a part of the fabric of the town.
Having the Westport Playhouse, and the Staples High School's Staples Players, and excellent music performances put
on within the schools was great to have experienced. That all continues to this day!