Why Am I Here?

   The end of my semester was just around the corner. Needless to say I was afraid. I was afraid that I would be forced to brave the dull sights of my hometown for another long and boring summer. My professor at Central Michigan University brought the name Saugatuck to my attention one day in my class. The truth is I don’t think many people knew what she was talking about. I asked myself “what’s a Saugatuck?” Soon I learned that there was indeed a very unique and magical place that seemed to be tucked behind the shores of Lake Michigan.

   From the moment I drove into town I had begun to create lasting memories.

   I’d like to think that I lived a different life before I called this area my home. Most people know that this area is an absolute boomtown in the summer months. The locals maintain a life that could be described as a moment when you get tired of hitting the gas and switch to cruise control. From sun up to sun down the shops, galleries and restaurants are surging with foreign bodies. From Memorial Day to Labor Day this sleeping town comes alive and delivers a hint of the “good life” to visitors and seasonal residents. I am no stranger to vacation towns, but this town has true character. I was happy to say that I had the pleasure of experiencing a different life amidst the chaos of tourism at high tide. It wasn’t the same type of chaotic carnival that I experienced on a daily basis in southeast Michigan. It was a different and a friendlier atmosphere to behold. Life is good once you get past the realization that you have a better chance of winning the lottery than finding a parking spot in downtown Saugatuck.

   Setting aside the nostalgia of summers as a kid, the summer of 2010 will go down as one of the best times in my life. There were festivals, concerts, socials, fireworks, great food and an endless supply of new faces. What more could I have asked for? Maybe a paid internship, but that is just wishful thinking.

   Just as the season had kicked off, it was now winding down. Although I was not ready for the inevitable, one more semester of classes was looming in my agenda. I worked at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts for a solid 15 weeks. It was a great experience and I would recommend it for anyone.

When December came around I would be back on the horse once again, looking for another internship that I could sink my teeth into. It was a struggle to find something that met my demands. Each day I became more and more stressed on the matter, and I had failed to have faith that I would land something that would be worth my time.

   One day a fellow advisor asked me, “Why are you trying to fight the current?” It was a bold statement; however, I had indeed been fighting the current. I knew exactly what she was talking about. It became a voice that echoed in my head for about an hour until I decided to make the call. I picked up the phone and on the other end of the line was Bill Underdown. It wasn’t just the voice of Bill that reassured my position on returning for my internship, it was the explosion of exciting ideas that seemed to resonate with our initial conversation. After a brief rundown from Underdown, I was now setting my sights for Douglas. I knew that Douglas was slow in the winter, but the pros outweighed the cons entirely.

   Even though we all know and love the summer circus that comes to town each year, I am here to explore the festive winter spirit that binds us all together this frigid season. It is here in the early months of the year where I feel the weather is getting the best of us. It seems that sometimes the only thing getting you to step outside is your daily trip to the post office. While the citizens of Douglas are low in numbers, I know there is a great sense of adventure to discover. I am out to get the behind the scenes story of how Douglas and the neighboring communities blend work and play into the lives of all of us. My plan is to seek out what is true to Douglas and how local sustainability has kept this town alive since 1870. I will put my curiosity to the limit and devour all that Douglas has to offer within my time as the Activities Leader in town.

   Less than a year ago I had never heard of this place. Now I am here to reveal the story of a year-round culture that calls itself The City of Douglas.