Tourists may picture beaches and hum the tune "Olde Cape Cod" when they think of this little peninsula of paradise in summer. Locals, however may hum a different tune, maybe Sammy Hagar's "I Can't Drive 55", with the view of tail lights for miles flashing in their minds. Traffic is a part of life pretty much year round these days on Cape, heightened during the summer months. It's easy to get impatient with the out-of-towners, trying to navigate our two roads, stopping unexpectedly on rotaries or simply driving at a pace (too slow, or too fast) and out of sync with our values. Remembering to double the amount of time it will take to get from point A to Point B for each and every trip becomes tiresome for us, adding to what is for many folks in the hospitality industry or trades an already looongg day serving those very drivers who cause such aggravation.
But what they also bring us (along with their traffic) is their money. And without it, existing year-round on Cape Cod for many would not be an option. Each set of tail lights equals dollars in our pockets. I try to think of this every time I get stuck in traffic. I think of the family headed to Dennis to use their boat that my husband serviced at Bass River. I think of the folks headed to Popponesset to eat at the Inn where my son works, or of the thirsty folks running on Dunkin' from my other son's store in Marstons Mills. I think of the family who owns a second home in Bourne, visiting for the summer, whose taxes pay my salary at the Bourne Public Schools. I think of how very lucky we are to live here, thanks to...traffic.
Putting it that way, traffic isn't bad at all!
But what they also bring us (along with their traffic) is their money. And without it, existing year-round on Cape Cod for many would not be an option. Each set of tail lights equals dollars in our pockets. I try to think of this every time I get stuck in traffic. I think of the family headed to Dennis to use their boat that my husband serviced at Bass River. I think of the folks headed to Popponesset to eat at the Inn where my son works, or of the thirsty folks running on Dunkin' from my other son's store in Marstons Mills. I think of the family who owns a second home in Bourne, visiting for the summer, whose taxes pay my salary at the Bourne Public Schools. I think of how very lucky we are to live here, thanks to...traffic.
Putting it that way, traffic isn't bad at all!