Beachwalker,
For a guy from Nantucket that was pretty well said
Honestly, having spent quite a bit of time on all the islands around here IMO Nantucket wins for shear beauty (and the best resturants anywhere!). Unfort in the last few years the build-out on your island has gone crazy. I read an article this past summer that said Nantucket was the the 2nd busiest airport in New England. (carrying builders each day) But in all honestly we are lucky to live where we do.
When I moved here, I hadn't read Post's book either...And I had trouble getting my hands on a copy for myself and ended up buying a used one over the net. Most of the people I know or met out here knew Bob Post well (in fact Post was their Dentist) and everyone read the book years ago and just assumed I had because I liked to fish. They refer to passages in the book in during conversation....I had to find this book!!!
He connected with a lot of fisherman and was able to get the tight-liped guys to open up because he was their friend and he ejoyed fishing as much as they did.... I enjoyed reading it but it was a bit of a let down cause I already had heard most of the stories.
When I lived on the mainland of course I heard about the derby and never really paid it much attn. I was not interested in competitive fishing, and for the most part still not....but you really don't grasp the sprit of this event here until you live here and fish it. For one month this island fishes hard. You would be hard pressed to get a plumber to come to your house during the derby. The line is "I'm all tied up" this means he is fishing. Having fished now a few times I have to say I got the fever bad this year. Next season I plan to take 5 weeks off without pay to fish 24/7 for the entire thing. I don't want any distractions. I am going to really put some time in like the old days at Block.....I am already preping for it!
The one thing I really like about living here are the number of people that fish. And besides the shear number of fisherman, everyone out here understands fishermen and their quirks. I felt like I fit in and everyone understood me a week after I was here.
Nantucket is not that much different I gather and is not lacking for great fishing either, surf or boat. Nearly every year the biggest bluefish in the MV derby comes from the Nantucket rips. Not to mention great point which IMO is unmatchaed anyplace on the east coast. What an amazing spot all the way out to the harbor entrance. Then you have all those gin clear flats on the west end where you can sight cast to fish as if you were in the bahamas. MV has it spots no doubt, but Nantucket is not lacking for its own honey holes. Not to mention in mid summer the offshore action out your way is something to behold when it lights up!
Island living (here or there) is not for everyone but for me I don't think I could go back. I like the winters out here and I really enjoy the quiet and the empty ocean beaches. Also, during heavy weather island living is exciting...when it blows 50 and the seas are up it is a blast to explore the island and see whats happening. I really want my kids to grow up here. I don't expect them to stay here forever and probably would not want them to but when they grow up this will be an experience they will remember me for. The quality of life on these islands IMO is unmatched if you like the outdoors and the water.
When I mentioned to a RI neighbor of mine (who I guess did not know me that well) that we were moving to MV, he asked me..."Thats an island..you can't be serious, how can you do this to your kids?...with his wife nodding. My response was...You don't understand, I am doing it FOR my kids.
Politically speaking I am on the wrong island...during the summer the liberals take over the joint and have their fund raises and parties...I really try to ignore all that crap...Like I really care about Spike Lees fundraiser for Louis Faracon or Hillary's book signing. It upsets me to see all these wack-O's but that the summer here. I just avoid that aspect of it.