A week ago, my lovely wife and our 2-year-old American Dirus dog were on Mt. Desert Island in Downeast Maine. We rented a tiny cottage just 12 feet from the shoreline of Bass Harbor. If you’re unfamiliar with this part of the USA, I can assure you it’s a harsh marine environment. Anything made from wood or iron that’s not protected from the sun and the sea will succumb to the elements and have a very short service life.
Early each morning, I took our dog out so she could relieve herself. I sat with a cup of coffee on a gray, weathered picnic table, watching the 11-foot ebb tide leave the bay. The ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, salt spray, rain and snow had tortured the table. Perhaps it was intentional, so the table matched the rustic, weathered appearance of the proud and tired cottage. If so, the property owner achieved the goal.
