I've been here for two weeks and a day, and I'm settling in. I think I may find here what I've wanted: a quiet, pleasant, orderly life, not without company.
I live in the hamlet of Crosby, New York, in the town of Barrington, which is not quite a town if you expect a town to have buildings. The nearest Post Office, and hence my mailing address, is Penn Yan. The name "Crosby" is not widely used.
It's a peaceful place. Crosby Point was a steamboat stop back when multiple steamboats plied the 20-mile length of Keuka Lake in the 19th century. From written accounts, it seems like it's all anyone ever did back then—ride the steamboats from one end of the lake to the other. It was the era of the so-called "steamboat wars," when each of several companies strove to put the others out of business. Now they are all out of business. An accountant currently occupies the old Crosby house, and the building that was the Crosby's general store, which made them the most prominent family of the tiny area that is sort of named for them, still stands nearby. The Crosby general store declined as the steamboats did, as local roads improved and the automobile arrived.
A view of the lake showing the points or "bump-outs."
I've put a red dot next to mine. Penn Yan is at the northern end of the main arm of the lake, at the very bottom of this picture.
Crosby is a point or "bump-out" on the lake. There was previously no zoning, so there is no minimum standard for the amount of lakefront each house must have, nor was there any proscription about "stacking" houses, i.e., building one in back of another. So my bumpout, which even some locals do not know is called Crosby Point, is chock full of cottages of every kind. And a church, which is across the street from me.
Oddly enough, the weather app on my iPhone does know the name of the tiny hamlet of Crosby...sometimes. It crops up as the location when I'm home. Other times it says Barrington. It's the only place besides history books and the captions of old pictures that I've encountered the name "Crosby" so far.
King and queen
My son Xander and his girlfriend Abby are visiting for the first time. They arrived after dark last night. I worked hard getting the bed assembled for them, and the mattress was delivered in the nick of time. It arrived just hours before they did. I don't have much furniture in the house yet.
The second bedroom—the house has two—is tiny, and doesn't quite fit a queen-sized bed, so the bed in the second bedroom is "full" sized. That word, full, has drifted into euphemism as the years have moseyed past. As with "full-frame" in sensor sizes, full, when it comes to beds, doesn't mean the biggest...it means one in the middle.
I am male, and I probably ought to identify more with kings than with queens. However I believe I've only slept on a king sized bed once, at the cottage my S.O. rented last month. It was impressively, excessively big. There was a hiking trail from one side of it to the other. We texted each other from opposite sides, as it was too far to shout. I suppose full size might have been the biggest size of bed back when the steamboats were running. Everything's relative. Despite the gratuitous genderizing and de facto status ranking of the names, queen sized beds are big enough for me, neither too big nor too small, which is to say, neither too kingly nor too full. Besides, I live in a democracy, and we democrats look askance at the idea of kings and queens.
My second bedroom has a balcony. I bought two little chairs for Xander and Abby to sit in. At night, if you turn off the lights in the house, you can see the Milky Way—there are very few lights in this area at night.
From what I hear, things are about to get very quiet around here. Most of the summer people decamp in the weeks after Labor Day, which is Monday. Although the weekends remain busy into October, that falls off as the days get cold.
There is currently no comfortable place in the house to sit, which, although temporary, is a shortcoming. I have dining-table chairs—no dining table yet; it's being built by the Amish—but no couches or stuffed chairs. The famous orange couch from my last new house was midcentury-modern style. It worked well in that house but would not have looked right in this one. I gave it to Xander, and it is now occupying the living room of his rented group house back in Wisconsin where he goes to college. Before winter gets here, I am probably going to need some furniture.
But there is still time. I will work on it.
Mike
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Featured Comments from:
Budd Riker: "I enjoyed this post as it reminded me so much of my childhood and early adult life growing up in the same area around Cayuga and Seneca Lake. Most of the time spent in the Ithaca area (the little town of Lansing) around waterfalls, gorges and forests. I didn't appreciate it until recently as I feel the pressure and congestion here in Southern California (moved here in 1976). Growing up there was too peaceful for a young person but would be perfect now. I need to get back there soon for a visit. Still have brothers and a sister there. I hope the peace and companionship you find there enriches your life in many ways!!! Congrats!!!"
Tom Burke (partial comment): "Sounds...well, sounds like it's more your sort of spot than mine, Mike. I enjoy natural beauty, but I also love bustle and crowds. How far away is your nearest grocery store/supermarket? What will it be like in winter? Do you have the means to get out?"
Mike replies: We'll see. I'll keep you posted.
William Walker: "I have just ordered some Solux lights for the gallery and print studio that I am opening in a small village an hour away from Cape Town, South Africa. I have been following your move and some of your thoughts with interest because we too have moved to a 'new life' in a quiet place.
"Anyway, the lights are coming from—according to my UPS tracking number—Henrietta, NY. I though I would see where Henrietta was and, immediately recognised the distinctive shape of Lake Keuka! It seems that Henrietta is not more than about 60 kilometers away from you. Small world! We are in a little village called Riebeek Kasteel and this life suits me just fine! I hope you will settle down nicely too!"
Mike replies: Small world indeed. And now I feel a little more connected to Riebeek Kasteel. Best wishes back to you.
Many Americans think that "New York" is just NYC, when in fact, the state is quite large with a lot of beautiful country and even wilderness.
You are in a great place; beautiful and a bit isolated yet not far from larger towns. I went to college at Syracuse and my daughter went to Cornell, with friends at Hobart, so I know the area a bit. As a creative, visual person you'll love it. My only suggestion would be that your next car have either 4 wheel or awd; the last couple of winters in NY have been pretty heavy.
One of my fond memories from my years at Syracuse was going to Watkins Glen in the fall; foliage, cars and tailgating. Great. Also, go over to Elmira (the "soaring capital") and get up in a sailplane. Quite an experience. At the risk of being cliche (one of our favorite terms on here), it's like being a bird.
Posted by: Peter | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 10:49 AM
We are fortunate to live on six acres we bought over thirty years ago in what used to be "the country" west of Austin. There are now subdivisions surrounding us with huge houses jammed in side by side. We sit on our porches and watch the deer, foxes, hawks, and the wind blow through the oak trees. Our "neighbors" sit in their home theatres and watch who knows what? Unfortunately our fourteen year old daughter has told us that those packed together homes are better and "are the way society ought to be!"
Posted by: jim woodard | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 11:11 AM
To go with your jokes about bed sizes:
"When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was."
-Mitch Hedberg
Posted by: Jon | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 12:00 PM
Sounds - well, sounds like it's more your sort of spot than mine, Mike. I enjoy natural beauty but I also love bustle and crowds. How far away is your nearest grocery store/supermarket? What will it be like in winter? Do you have the means to get out?
iPhone weather forecast: mine sometimes gives me the forecast for different locations depending on which side of the house I'm at - Totley at the front and Dore at the back. Sometimes they're different!
Posted by: Tom Burke | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 12:33 PM
I predict your next "camera" may be a small boat, or maybe a canoe.
You may be wanting some x-country skis this winter....If this is not something you have done (although I would think that you would have), get wider, metal edged ones so you can "break trail" better. It's a great workout, easy on the joints at our age, and not as disgusting as other forms of exercise (like walking fast from the Hirshhorn to Union Station right now, like I am doing, the disgustingness of which you will understand. Let's just say no one sits next to me on the train going home if any other seats are available). Not as dangerous as cycling in America, either.
Posted by: tex andrews | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 12:37 PM
Nice! But I prefer a screaming lifestyle.
Posted by: Chuck Albertson | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 12:51 PM
Congrats Mike! Sounds like you've reached a lifetime goal, many only dream. Love the picture of the deck with the new chairs, it has a lovely symmetry to the color palette- you must have a really good camera ;-)
Posted by: Mark Kinsman | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 12:55 PM
It sounds quite like what we here in Michigan call Up North, which can mean a lot of things but definitely covers little lakes and hamlets filled with A-frames and sided cottages. Lots of raucus and often rancerous debate about people from down below building big year-round houses. Good luck, Mike.
Posted by: Andy Kochanowski | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 01:55 PM
Looks like a lovely, peaceful place, Mike. I hope you find it as satisfying as you expect. Brace yourself for oppressive dead-of-winters.
@ Chuck Albertson: If you like to scream it looks likes the perfect place to do so...and never be heard.
Me? No way. I've never even lived in the suburbs...or even in a single-family house. Although I occasionally fantasize of living with wildlife in view and wood smoke wafting through my nostrils I'm pretty much a city boy forever.
Posted by: Ken Tanaka | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 02:52 PM
I second the recommendation to get cross-country skis and a canoe (or kayak). Once the city people have left, it should be very peaceful out on the lake.
Posted by: Chuck Holst | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 04:15 PM
What a great new chapter in your story ! Good for You !
It should always be about the Place more than the house, and the house looks great.
You really only need 2 comfortable chairs, ...more than that just encourages the extra people to stay.
Most galleries are sparsely furnished, make it a gallery, less to clean, more to enjoy.
We have a second home near the Ocean in Montauk NY near the tip of long Island. It is 120 miles out into open ocean as compared to NYC.
Bustling in summer, near desolate in winter (my favorite time). But like the Finger Lakes it is a destination people use their vacation to experience. You will get a heightened sense of the seasons, of renewal each spring, but in the fall you get excited all over again, because you are about to have it all to yourself again. Even most of the stores and restaurants close, you become a Local, in the best sense of that word.
Come Spring, you get to do it again.
A couple things that are sort of not optional,
A 4WD vehicle, some proper boots and outerwear
A small inverter Generator, (a honda 3kw and Transfer switch & UPS for your computer (you Will lose power)
A good pair of 7x50 binoculars for the winter sky
If you are prepared, it is not even a hassle.
enjoy
Posted by: Michael Perini | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 04:27 PM
I do envy your summers. I went to college at Cornell back in the seventies where I studied physics and in what little spare time I had took pictures of the region using a Ricohmatic 225 TLR. The area is truly beautiful. I now live on Lake Toledo Bend on the TX-LA border and take my photos with an old Rolleiflex 2.8 E that I rescued from a trash pile. Given the hot summers here maybe I should look into a small place in upstate NY. I just wouldn't want to pay NY taxes. BTW, the Honda generators are overpriced. I use one from Harbor Freight that Consumer Reports recommended - http://www.harborfreight.com/6500-peak5500-running-watts-13-hp-420cc-generator-epa-iii-68529.html
Posted by: Tommy Lucas | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 07:35 PM
I'm glad you are beginning to settle in. I am looking forward to hearing from you, in passing as you focus on other topics, what life is like in a Keuka winter, as I've only known the place in July and August. (One of those Pennsylvania Yankees for whom I've been told the town of Penn Yan is named.)
Some winter-time thoughts:
-Get a "snow rat." This is a capable enough but unlovely old vehicle that you just use in the Winter. (Told to me by someone who once lived in Buffalo. NY is notorious for using tons of corroding salt on the roads.)
-Get a generator, preferably hooked up to your gas line, so you need not venture forth for gasoline, and a transfer switch. If you can afford it, get one that starts and transfers automatically. A capable UPS between your outlet and your electronics will filter out any ugly electrical stuff, while avoiding the steep premium price of an inverter generator.
-Have a fireplace? Get it fitted with a wood burning insert. Especially if you don't get a generator, it's nice to have an emergency heat source. I have a small Lopi one, which can keep my 2,000 sq ft Cape Cod warm.
-You're from Wisconsin, so you don't need any advice about getting around in snow.
Posted by: Mike R | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 08:24 PM
The generator is a good idea. The Honda's are pricey but quiet. They are usually small but portable. I personally like the boat idea; either a kayak or a small rowing skiff. Canoes are nice but kayaks or rowboats are more stable for photography. When I say rowing boats, I mean the smaller, narrower beam skiffs designed to be a joy to row. I went to school in Rochester (RIT) and there is much to like about winters: frozen waterfalls, virgin snow, many things. Hope it all goes well!
Posted by: Dean Beasom | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 08:49 PM
Upstate New York is the Garden of Eden.
Posted by: misha | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 09:01 PM
Where did you purchase your furniture? I had virtually everything I own built by Hornung Chair/Furniture in Penn Yan. They do beautiful work...
Posted by: Scott | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 10:31 PM
I'm not convinced we lucky few do actually live in democracies. Maybe Iceland. We go through a democratic sham once in a while to elect representatives who then wield power regardless of their mandate.
What passes for democracy is better described as meritocracy.
Posted by: Don | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 11:41 PM
Mike R said:
"You're from Wisconsin, so you don't need any advice about getting around in snow."
I have lived near you in Wisconsin, and I have lived near you in Ithaca, and there was much more snow in upstate NY than ever in WI. Get a snow blower.
All this talk about generators... I never had one in Wisconsin and the neighbors who did had the generators fail too.
4 wheel or all wheel drive? Hey I had that in Wisconsin, but you seemed to survive there without it. Perhaps S.O. has all wheel drive? Then you are already set.
Notice all these guys are giving you advice. I say listen to S.O. as she has lived there already. She surely has given you all the advice?
Posted by: Jack | Thursday, 03 September 2015 at 11:42 PM
Why did reading you write about this, about Xander and Abby and this home, brought tears to my eyes? Just "Further evidence that scientists are incurable sentimentalists".
Posted by: Animesh Ray | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 01:04 AM
I have just ordered some Solux lights for the gallery and print studio that I am opening in a small village an hour away from Cape Town, South Africa.
I have been following your move and some of your thoughts with interest because we too have moved to a "new life" in a quiet place.
Anyway, the lights are coming from - according to my UPS tracking number - Henrietta, NY. I though I would see where Henrietta was and, immediately recognised the distinctive shape of Lake Keuka!
It seems that Henrietta is not more than about 60 kilometers away from you. Small world!
We are in a little village called Riebeek Kasteel and this life suits me just fine! I hope you will settle down nicely too!
Regards
William
Posted by: William Walker | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 02:43 AM
I like reading this post a lot. A lot of beauty coming through.
Posted by: Darlene Almeda | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 05:38 AM
Forget cross-country skis, it's easier to take photos on snowshoes.
Posted by: Robert Roaldi | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 08:10 AM
Lucky you are. The Milky Way is quite a show.
Posted by: Bob Rosinsky | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 09:04 AM
If there is a Boat in the future, it has to be one of these:
The Penn Yan Swift Boat
thesehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VzkbonT4N0
Posted by: Michael Perini | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 02:31 PM
Apples, falling leaves, pumpkins, cider donuts, the Ithaca farmers market. From now until mid-January the region is just about perfect. There is a very nice outdoor sculpture garden in Cazenovia (two hour drive for you?) worth a long wander with your S.O. and a camera, Rochester and Buffalo if you are yearning for some type of city action, and a drive to the Berkshires for Mass MOCA and the Clark if you need a fine art fix. Given the frequent weather changes, the lakes provide plenty of dramatic views to photograph, and get even more interesting to shoot once full winter arrives and the lake freezes.
Posted by: David Aureden | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 05:14 PM
Hello,
I was in Scotland this afternoon when my wife asked me to stop the car at a retail outlet, GAP clothes shop for kids, so it was. Right there hanging on a rail was a child's tea shirt with... Historic Aviation Finger Lakes NY emblazoned across the front. I instantly thought of you, I've since searched Google for Finger Lakes NY.
...I've been quietly following your blog for a number of years now and I just thought I'd drop in and say, I'm liking the look of this new place you've found. It looks to be a beautiful location and I hope you'll be very happy here.
Kind regards from the other side of the pond.
Paul Wood
Posted by: Paul Wood | Friday, 04 September 2015 at 05:27 PM
I have to agree with Tom Burke - give me the city life, NYC, or London being the best. Quietness and the same old countryside quickly gets boring. It's a bit like people romanticize about traveling across Switzerland by train "Okay another mountain with snow topped peaks, another lake." The city gives you the security and comfort of being surrounded by society in all its forms. There is a constant ephemera of change, noise, buildings, streets, transport, light and it makes me feel very much part of the earth.
Posted by: Robert | Saturday, 05 September 2015 at 01:49 AM
Congratulation Mike. This is so exciting. Keep more stories about this place and your life coming. I live in Oslo, Norway, the southern part of the country at 59 degrees north (Anchorage, AK, is located at 61 degrees north) and after a few nice summer weeks we have 11C (52F) today. Nice to be able to turn off the lights and see the Milky Way! Let us know about your furniture and the Amish.
Best Jean
Posted by: Jean | Saturday, 05 September 2015 at 02:31 AM
Congratulations, sounds like you found a nice spot. Make local friends, you will need each other, especially in winter. Find the person who will be doing your snow plowing (and a backup). A non electrical secondary heat source can be critical in maintaining the health of your house and yourself. Lock things up when you are away. Secure proper winter clothing. Avoid eating as entertainment.
Posted by: Steven Major | Saturday, 05 September 2015 at 05:52 AM
Really enjoy reading about this phase of TOP. So well done, as always.
We're undergoing a similar move: from the burbs of NYC to the pacific solitude of the Catskill Mountains. And I'm gonna build an old-fashioned wet darkroom. Gawd help us!
Hopefully Pierce won't show up at my doorstep with a bottle of sodium sulfide!
Yours for a digitally modified food chain,
...gm
Posted by: Gary Miller | Saturday, 05 September 2015 at 05:57 AM
Mike,
Your new home looks idyllic, but I wonder about the risk of flooding, given the proximity to the lake.
Posted by: Rob | Saturday, 05 September 2015 at 11:50 AM
Oops. I forgot to include our resurrected blog on photojournalism in the digital age https://wordsandpixels.wordpress.com
Enjoy!
Posted by: Gary Miller | Sunday, 06 September 2015 at 04:20 AM
I have been a bit disconnected for the last 10 days or so, in my case looking at the Milky Way (the constellation, not the chocolate bar) from South Bay, Ontario. South Bay is an actual bay, not a village or town, in Prince Edward County, Ontario. It's been our pre-Labour Day vacation destination for 13 years now.
It's somehow comforting that we were both engaged in stargazing at the same time, at least approximately.
Hope to see you again soon, Mike. It would be immediate, but we are looking at buying retirement property in "The County", which is a peaceful rural area that has become a food and viticultural destination. Sorry, Finger Lakes, but County Pino Noir kicks your ... :D
Posted by: Earl Dunbar | Monday, 07 September 2015 at 06:44 PM