Tikkabik

Cape Cod is heavily dependent on the revenue generated from tourism and the tax money from seasonal residency -- our region represents the highest concentration of second homes anywhere in Massachusetts, and its population swells to four or five times its size in the summer months. It's an annual boon the cities and towns on Cape Cod depend on heavily. Still, many of the year-round residents are relieved when the tourist season finally ends, especially those of us who don't depend on tourist money to make a living. Most long-time residents consider this weekend -- Columbus Day weekend -- the time when that tourist season is completely over.

The peak tourist season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. That's when the vast majority of vacationing families and couples visit our sandy peninsula, filling the beaches and local restaurants and malls. There's a mass exodus on Labor Day that's been welcomed over the years by Cape Codders waving to tourists driving off-Cape from overpasses that intersect Route 6, the Mid-Cape Highway. For some of us, it's "Thanks for coming, see you again next year," for others, it's "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

So as much as we welcome tourists, those of us who like the place to ourselves really do appreciate it when they go too. It's a huge difference in the quality of life that may really only affect one season, but it's the best season to be on Cape Cod. There's a "sweet spot" of a few weeks after Labor Day when it's still warm enough to be summery but devoid of tourists, for the most part. The savvy travelers and seasonal residents know this and use that time of year to come down.

But by Columbus Day we've typically gotten a killing frost or damn close to it, the leaves are turning their Autumn colors and with a few exceptions here and there it's too cold to go outside without a sweater or a light jacket, so any pretense of this still being a summer vacation spot is gone. Most of the seasonal restaurants, ice cream stands and clam shacks have already shuttered themselves and put up their "See You Next Year" signs, and we're once again left to ourselves.

Next comes the departure of snowbirds -- elderly residents who maintain seasonal homes in warmer climes like Florida. There are at least a couple like that in our neighborhood -- typically between now and Thanksgiving (or perhaps a few days after, if they have kids and grandkids still in this area), we'll see them load up the 30 foot RVs they've had parked next to their houses all spring and summer. With their sedans and SUVs hitched to the back, they make the long journey south for the winter.

It's a beautiful, sometimes desolate place this time of year. It can get a bit harsh in the winter, but that's not something we really have to worry about until the waning days of December.