What's it like to live on an island twenty—two miles out to sea? Where there are only three dozen winter residents? Where the local economy is lobstering? Period. Where your most reliable so
What's it like to live on an island twenty—two miles out to sea? Where there are only three dozen winter residents? Where the local economy is lobstering? Period. Where your most reliable source of transportation off the island may be a small Cessna and the airstrip is dirt (or snow or mud)? Where, if the forecaster says the storm is headed safely out to sea, you know it's coming your way? Eva Murray moved to Matinicus in 1987 to teach in its one—room school. She married an island man and stayed to raise their family there. Over the years she's written a number of lively columns and articles for mainland publications. These are the stories of that unique community, of an interdependence that is all too rare these days but necessary for this island's survival.
WELL OUT TO SEA, by Eva Murray, explores island life. What's it like to live on an island twenty—two miles out to sea? Where there are only three dozen winter residents? Where the local economy is lobstering? Period. Where your most reliable source of transportation off the island may be a small Cessna and the airstrip is dirt (or snow or mud)? Where, if the forecaster says the storm is headed safely out to sea, you know it's coming your way? Eva Murray moved to Matinicus in 1987 to teach in its one—room school. She married an island man and stayed to raise their family there. Over the years she's written a number of lively columns and articles for mainland publications. These are the stories of that unique community, of an interdependence that is all too rare these days but necessary for this island's survival. Murray writes with a keen eye and sharp wit, sharing stories that are sometimes poignant, sometimes mind—boggling, and often hilarious. She lives in a place where, "You love it, absolutely love it here, 51 percent of the time. That is enough to make you stay."
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When Eva Murray took a job on Matinicus Island in 1987, she expected to stay a year as the island's K—8 teacher. When the school year ended, she turned down her graduate school acceptance, remained on Matinicus, and in 1989 married the island electrician. She and her husband Paul raised their two children on Matinicus and continue to live and work there full time. Eva is a wilderness emergency medical technician, operates a small bakery, has served in several positions of municipal government, and has been a regular columnist for area publications since 2003 including Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, DownEast Online, and Working Waterfront. She is a 1985 graduate of Bates College and is currently working on a book about the modern—day one—room schools of Maine.
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