Another transition new Martha’s Vineyard home owners experience when spending time on island is the role of the ferry. As a vacationer it is almost competitive to acquire the perfect reservations to arrive and depart on Saturdays in August. The Bourne Bridge, the rotaries, the green Steamship Authority signs all trigger the anticipation for the Vineyard… Kids are bouncing in the back seat and parents are smug that they are pulling into the terminal at just the right time, not too early but with time to use the bathroom, pick up a schedule, and buy an ice cream cone.
New home owners soon discover that the ferry is a busy and critical part of island life. We need it to get to medical facilities, schools, sports events, Logan airport, museums, restaurants, concerts, conferences, and shopping.
Although there are many enjoyable reasons to be on the ferry going off island, the boat is a necessary part of many islanders’ and non islanders’ lives. There are a substantial number of commuters that travel in both directions for work. Some have the same seat or group with whom they have coffee or beer depending on the time of day, while others prefer to enjoy their solitude and read the paper.