Farewell winter. We’re ready for spring.

Maine is well known for long winters, and the necessary limitations brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic made the winter of 2020-2021 feel longer than any in recent memory. At The Mooring, we embraced the challenge. And while our usual activity schedule involves lots of community-based activity, we got creative. Instead of trips to restaurants, cultural events, and local stores, we made special meals, enjoyed online entertainment, and seized opportunities to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and pretty much anything else we could think of. We also embraced technology to maintain contact with family and friends – while looking forward to the day when we could resume those visits in person.

Despite the limitations, we had a wonderful winter. Housemates and care partners made the most of every moment, and we grew closer as a group – forming deeper friendships and learning more about the things we enjoy – and the things we don’t. And while we wouldn’t trade the time we shared, it’s safe to say we’re more excited about the approach of springtime than ever before.

Warming up to warmer weather – and longer days.

Officially, residents of the Northern Hemisphere welcome spring right around March 20th each year. That date roughly marks the spring equinox, which, from an astronomical perspective, is when the sun is positioned directly over the equator – and the length of day and night are the same. Unofficially, springtime starts with late winter’s first reasonably warm day, when the light lingers noticeably longer in the sky than it has since November.

From a purely human standpoint, spring is marked as much by a feeling as it is by the calendar. The birds feel it, and express it with each morning’s dawn chorus. The plants feel it, as crocuses break through thin layers of snow to soak up the sun. And people feel it, responding with smiles as they walk outside and breathe in warm breezes, rich with the aroma of thawing earth.

There’s a natural inclination to lean into the promise of spring. And at The Mooring, that’s just what we do. It starts gradually. On sunny days, when the mercury rises above freezing, we bundle up and head to the patio to replenish our stores of vitamin D. To beat back any chill, we’ll often crank up our outdoor fireplace and gather ‘round to chat, take in our surroundings, and bask in the assurance that winter is winding down. We might even fire up the grill – something we do even when the weather’s cold – for a taste of warmer days to come.

Our activity roster also reflects the promise of warmer days. While winter’s extremes typically keep us confined to the van during our daily scenic drives, springtime invites us to open the doors during our daily adventures. As weather permits, we’ll add a touch of exploration to our stops for short strolls, beachcombing, and even an occasional picnic lunch. The activity is always energizing – and often conducive to a great night’s rest.

Getting ready to grow.

While warmer weather and increasing sunlight invariably trigger spring fever at The Mooring, garden planning is our first annual acknowledgement that winter is beginning to wane. In late February and into March, housemates and care partners start the tantalizing process of reviewing seed catalogs for springtime planting. Despite the snow cover, this process reminds us that change is coming – and planning for planting generates lots of excitement.

So we plot our plots – and begin the process of planting the seeds that will eventually produce the coming summer’s harvest. As soon as we can, we start getting our hands dirty, planting starters for tomatoes, cucumbers, and other delicacies that’ll eventually grace our kitchen and our plates. We also look for annual and perennial flowers that brighten our surroundings, while providing plenty of opportunities for pollinators like bees and butterflies to flourish.

By the time the earth warms up – and the risk of a late frost is low – we’re ready to commit our burgeoning nursery to our raised garden beds. All of our housemates take part in any way they can, whether by physically planting, or simply bearing witness to a prosperous and productive future. For many housemates, the process of gardening seems almost reflexive – tapping into memory resources unaffected by progressive dementia. And for all of our housemates, our gardens provide abundant therapeutic benefit. Whether they take part by planting or “supervising,” our housemates all enjoy the gratifying sense of seeing growth and change – and enjoying the results at harvest time.

Freedom of movement

While we stay physically active during the winter months – most recently with in-house physical and occupational therapy and Zoom workouts – springtime always brings greater opportunity to venture out, experience Maine, and move. Those explorations begin right in our own secure backyards, where our patios, gardens, trail network – and in the case of The Mooring at The Downs, our neighborhood sidewalks – offer something for every level of activity.

In terms of regular use, few spaces see more action than our spacious patios. While winter invariably affords us a few sunny days for bundled-up suncatching, springtime finds us venturing out at every opportunity until time spent outside rivals the number of hours we spend indoors. We grill – and even dine outside – whenever we can. We gather around our outdoor fireplace. We take turns on our always-popular recumbent trike. We exercise. We play games. And above all else, we simply enjoy the fresh air and the environment, catching glimpses of local wildlife, and relaxing in the company of other housemates and care partners alike.

The garden – as discussed above – also commands increasing attention and enthusiasm with each passing day. We start by clearing out the remnants of last year’s crops, and move on to planning and plotting which plants and seedlings will go where. Then, once temperatures have stabilized and the soil is sufficiently warmed, we commit our plans to the earth – and wait for nature to take its course.

For the more adventurous, our walking trails (at The Mooring on Foreside) and neighborhood sidewalks (at The Mooring at The Downs) provide a safe, satisfying opportunity to stretch out, explore, and enjoy our local environment. These strolls are also big favorites for our canine companions – Mick (Foreside), and Moose and Otter (The Downs), who always welcome the chance to join housemates and care partners during their perambulations.

Post Covid Possibilities

With increasing rates of vaccination, we’re cautiously optimistic we’ll be able to gradually expand our horizons to the communities around us. Thanks to recent changes in CDC and CMS guidelines, we’ve already resumed in-person visits with family members – breaking a nearly yearlong hiatus. It’s difficult to overstate the value of personal contact, for both housemates and their family members alike. The relief that accompanies that connection is palpable, and recent visits have been joyful – and emotional.As safety permits, we anticipate the resumption of outdoor visits to some of our favorite local locations – like Fort Williams Park, Kettle Cove, Winslow Park, and other familiar public areas. These outings provide a welcome change of scenery, and offer an opportunity to see both familiar sights and happy people. This return to normal adds wonderful dimension to life.

We’re also optimistic that this spring may allow us to resume other favorite off-site activities. From everyday activities like a trip to the supermarket to special events like a restaurant meal, a musical performance, and other cultural experiences, increased vaccination rates promise a return to pre-pandemic norms that enrich life, increase engagement, and help to sustain the hope and optimism that mark “normal” everyday life.