People walk down to the theater on a summer night. The new house has much more indoor space, a large lot and views to the Medomak River. By any standard it's a beautiful house faithfully designed to blend with neighboring 18th and 19th century houses. But the little old cape had charm and convenience. And something else.
Houses are closer together.
Neighbors are friendly. Even more than the convenience, I liked being in the swing of things having your neighbors close by. Several years ago, there were a dozen well-preserved Main Street homes for sale in Waldoboro. All have recently been sold. A small house sold to a man with terminal cancer who loved to sail.