Cape Cod

When you zoom-in on the northeastern part of the United Sates with Google Earth, you cannot help but notice a landmass protruding eastward into the Atlantic Ocean in the shape of a bent arm. This is Cape Cod, a part of the state of Massachusetts.

Because of the geographic location of the Cape, as it is affectionately called, its early population engaged in seafaring activities. In the last century, however, Cape Cod more and more became a popular place to spend a holiday or an extended vacation, to the point where today the Cape's major industry is tourism. In the summer months the population increases manifold. But not only the so-called summer people have discovered the charms of the Cape, many people, most likely after having spent one or more summer vacations on the Cape, opt to retire there. Once one sees the beaches, smells the salt air and partakes of the many delicacies of the ocean, one is hooked.

The result is that during part of the year the retired population outnumbers the working-age population. For certain, in the summer months the younger generations outnumber the seniors, except that they don't come to work on the Cape, but come to vacation. So there is the dilemma: Everybody (tourists and residents) expect certain amenities such as food in the supermarkets, service in the restaurants and fresh seafood in the fish markets. But there aren't enough working-age people on the Cape to do the work. However, every year when I visit the Cape during the hustle and bustle of the tourist season I am amazed that everything seems to function. For years I wondered where the young people that I saw waiting on tables or working in supermarkets suddenly came from when I didn't see that many during the off-season. Then, one day I noticed that some of the young workers had names that were not common in that area, such as Tamila, Alexey, Svetlana or Tirana. It finally occurred to me that I could ask them where they were from. The answers I got ranged from Ukraine to Romania and parts in between. Asking further, I found out that they were hired through an agency to work in the US for a period of time. Aha, there lies the answer! Good for the residents and visitors to the Cape, but I hope for the sake of the young people form eastern Europe that it is a pleasant experience for them and that they are not being exploited. As far as I can judge, the more-or-less permanent residents, many of them well-to-do retirees, are generous when remunerating someone for their services and also otherwise are friendly people, increasing the likelihood of a pleasant experience for the summer helpers. 

 

Cape Cod has much to offer, be it for older generations as a retirement paradise, for younger generations as a relaxing vacation spot or for seasonal workers to experience a different lifestyle.