What is it about specific places that evoke the most powerful emotions in us?

For me, it was sitting down to write this post and reflecting on my most recent vacation in a small coastal town in Massachusetts this summer. For those who know me well, or I’m sure with a little googling, you’ll know where this is, but for those unfamiliar with the area, its largest “city” is New Bedford.

Historical Significance

For those who remember their high school English class and are familiar with the literary classics, New Bedford, MA, is the starting point of Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby Dick. Historically, it was a major whaling town and one of the most booming towns in the US during the late 19th century. New Bedford has since transitioned from its industrial past, trying to join the 21st century like its much larger neighbor, Boston, to the north. It has seen its share of ups and downs over the last 150 years, but it still remains a unique tourist destination for its whaling history. It is also one of the launching points for ferries to Martha’s Vineyard, a well-known vacationing spot for the Obamas, Clintons, Bill Gates, and Oprah.

As for the area where my family goes, the local lore here is that this particular location began as an Army Surplus storage site after the US Civil War in the 1860s. One of the more notable residents was Union General Philip Sheridan, who built his home here in his later years. The home, which still stands today, was built on a small bluff that overlooks a beach and bay known as Buzzards Bay. Sheridan, known for his “scorched-earth” tactics during the Civil War, found solace in this serene location.

Family Tradition

For nearly 35 years, my family—my parents, my brother, sister, and I—have been coming here. It was my mother, who grew up in the area around New Bedford in a town called Dartmouth (not the one with the college), who wanted to reconnect with the area after moving west to San Francisco in her early 20s, getting married, and starting her own family. Since then, we’ve visited every summer, just as my children do now.

I think it’s important to acknowledge the secluded nature and exclusivity of this place, which for most of its existence consisted mostly of a WASP community that had summer homes here. I have noticed over the years that it is beginning to evolve and enjoy many of the comforts we enjoy back in our urban lives. It initially used to be a place where we didn’t have a TV and internet usage was infrequent. That has since changed in the age of constant connectivity. Regardless, this place is a tight-knit community where people genuinely enjoy their time together and the comforts of an occasional cocktail party, a beach cookout, or even a lecture at the local “Town Hall.”

For the sake of this post, I wanted to try and capture the essence of this place and its grounding effect on me by doing an exercise of the senses. This place had the powerful effect to impact all of my senses, and I wanted to visit each one that I could tie to this place. For each of the five senses (Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch), I have distinct memories that I am trying to embody daily since returning from vacation. So without further ado, join me on my sensory journey:

THE Scenes OF SERENITY (Sight)

The natural beauty of this place is unparalleled. The scenic coastal landscape, the ocean, the beaches, and the lush greenery make it very easy on the eyes. There is a public bathing beach, accompanied by a long pier that is a local favorite for those who want to swim in the ocean. I have spent many evenings under the stars with a beer in my hand, having long philosophical discussions with my friends sitting at the edge of the pier and looking out on Buzzards Bay. Seeing the twinkles of lights across the water, knowing that Cape Cod was just on the other side, is a visual that will be burned in my memory for many years.

The Symphony OF NATURE (Sound)

What I often heard there was… NOTHING.

By “nothing,” I mean the calmness and quiet of nature. It is a quiet community with very little car traffic on the county roads, so there was very little noise. For the things I actually heard, it was the sounds of Blue Jays and Cardinals, birds not typically found on the West Coast, which I had a particular frequency tuned to. This particular place was one of the beginning places that started my love for birds, which I have written about before. Strangely enough, in addition to the sounds of nature, it was also the hum of lawnmowers from the different landscaping businesses that seemed to be a dull background noise that I would constantly hear. And finally, it was the sounds of tennis rackets hitting balls back and forth on the courts of the “Main Square.”

At night, the silence is profound.

Breathing It All In (Smell)

They say smell is most tied to memory, and I agree. Driving down the dirt road to my parents’ house, I have distinct moments I recall of taking a deep breath in through my nose and picking up the fragrant scents of honeysuckle and the maple trees that the landscape had to offer. In addition, I would pick up the salt air through the trees and the local marsh, unique to this area. At night, it was the smells of seafood, particularly oysters, mussels, and of course the lob-stah! It was also the aroma of steamed corn that evoked the most powerful memories for me

As someone who grew up in San Francisco, I certainly spent a lot of time on the beach; however, this coastal salt air felt more unique. Perhaps it was the combination of the warm humid air and the proximity to the ocean that made these smells so acute.

Culinary Delights (Taste)

There is no denying that the food here is amazing. Lobster, which was once considered a food consumed by the working class, is now something enjoyed as a luxurious delight for those who can afford it. For us, the crustacean was often enjoyed in the form of lobster rolls, as buying whole lobsters or meat by the pound was a considerable expense.

What stood out to me was the abundance of the many different roadside ice cream stands, which I imagine would only be open seasonally, as winter here is a completely different ballgame. These local hotspots are where residents and summer visitors mingle, sharing the joy of these tasty treats. My family and I would often enjoy a tasty treat after dinner, which was a short drive to get to. My favorite flavors I enjoyed were Moose Tracks and Cake Batter. And as I mentioned for mealtimes, my parents would practically insist on eating corn on the cob every night, which continues to this day.

The Feels (Touch)

The feeling of my bare feet in the grass is a simple pleasure, especially for someone who grew up in a city and wears shoes most of the time. Here, I was barefoot more than I was wearing shoes as there were so many opportunities to go shoeless: the beach, the front lawn, and even just walking down the dirt road towards the main square.

Another sensation, which is something not typically experienced on the West Coast, is the humidity of the place. That combined with the pleasantly warm weather had a way to make my skin feel alive and hydrated, a stark contrast to the dry climate of San Francisco.

And finally, it was the refreshing sensation of plunging into the warm Atlantic Ocean from our local pier, which had the rejuvenating power to truly immerse oneself in the experience of the place.

BEING Present BUT ALSO Looking Ahead

This place is a recharge for me, particularly relevant in 2024, as I navigate life without having had a full-time job since October 2023. I’m grateful to share this special place in Southern Massachusetts with my wife and two children. Their experiences here will be truly special, creating memories that will last a lifetime. I look forward to many more visits and the memories we’ll continue to create together.

As I attempted to answer what it is about specific places that evoke the most powerful emotions in us, I find the answers in the experiences and memories that this coastal town has provided me. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches of this place are intertwined with my own personal history and family traditions, grounding me and lingering long after the vacation ends. It is the memories and feelings that we carry that remind us of the importance of reconnecting with the places we hold closely to our hearts and souls.