This Week in Lincolnville

Sun, 09/27/2026 - 1:16pm

Ed O’Brien

My moving crew. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The old office on the Harbor. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The new office, partially set up. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

My moving crew. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The old office on the Harbor. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The new office, partially set up. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

I write frequently about accepting change, but honestly, I do not like it very much. In the last 26 years of my professional career, I have held three positions, and it took a lot for me to transition. After eight years with the state, an offer of a position which would allow me to use my post-graduate degree drew me to work for a private agency. Six years later, when that agency was purchased by a larger company, I took the risk of striking out on my own.

The first office I rented in downtown Camden only lasted a year, before I was invited by a colleague to join them in a suite of offices on the harbor, overlooking the rather striking view of yachts and windjammers. I remained there for over 11 years.

During those strange days of Covid, the office on Bay View Street truly became a second home, where I continued work remotely in my quiet little room. More than once, it provided power and internet for the family during an extended outage at Sleepy Hollow.

I knew it wasn’t forever. My landlords had been open about the reality that the building was destined to be rebuilt, so I was not surprised when this spring I got a generous five-month heads-up that I would need to find a new place to set up shop by the end of September.

There we were at moving day. You can collect a lot in 11 years. I emptied out literal bags of old training manuals, and other detritus from all 26 years. The Legos, which anyone who has set foot in my office knows are a bit excessive, were carefully packed up; about half will come with me, the other half will return home to the Lego room/Tracee’s office. So many books, many inherited over the years; if anyone has an interest in old and maybe outdated mental health texts, reach out.

Early into my foray into private practice, I worked with little kids occasionally, before realizing my skill set is really more suited to twelve and up, so the easel and dollhouse went to the Swap Shop, where they were happily received. I like to think that I am transferring a sleeker, more streamlined version of my office to my new location.

What remained is the furniture, stuff I did not want to tackle alone. The morning of Sunday, September 27, had been set as the day to confront this. The one day the large young men I live with do not have football and my daughter’s transportation home from college to go to the Common Ground Fair this weekend was dependent on her willingness to help the move happen.

The forecasted nor’easter has been a source of anxiety all week, but I grew mostly confident that it would not interfere too much in the morning.

When I began talking about the upcoming move, many of my clients lamented the loss of my space on the harbor. I will miss it, but to be honest, Camden Harbor is not as striking when you see it every day. Parking and traffic is always an issue in the summer, and there are only so many times you can be awed by the Appledore gliding past your space on a pristine summer day. It can be a bit of a distraction in the midst of a session, actually.

So I am moving a few miles down the coast, into Rockport, into an old mansion that I have loved since I was a boy. This feels like a good sign. It does not hurt that I will be renting from Midcoast Habitat, an arm of an organization with a mission for which I have always held enormous respect. I even spent a spring break long ago working on a home for the organization in western Pennsylvania.

I may not be able to look out my window and see Mount Battie and the working harbor, but I am quite happy with my view of the treeline stretching behind the rambling place on Route 1.

Thank you so much to my wonderful and accommodating landlords on Bay View. Eleven years is a long time. Boxing up the space the other day, it was hard not to be nostalgic about all that has happened in that little room. Seeing my own kids, visiting dad’s office, creating drawings to hang on those walls.

Everything changes. Sometimes you welcome it, sometimes you fight tooth and nail, but you learn to accept it, as it happens regardless. Tomorrow morning I will settle into a place that is different, but it will still be familiar. A new chapter, but the same book.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers meet, as always, on Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. On Wednesday, the library will welcome LCS after school students for apples, as well as stories and crafts involving the fall fruit. MahJonng will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, as well, as from noon to 2 p.m.

The library also reminds the public that it has free tickets available for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Call at 207-706-3896 or email questions@lincolnvillecommunitylibrary.org for more information. There is no better time than an crisp autumn afternoon to visit the trolls.

LCS-PTO Clothing Swap

The Parent Teacher Organization of Lincolnville Central School continues its planning for the autumn clothing swap, Oct. 23-25 at the Tranquility Grange. This is an amazing event, and such an incredible way to upcycle the clothes you or your kids have outgrown, and get some new stuff. Leave your clean donations at the box outside the LCS front doors, and volunteers will sort and organize them for the October sale. Thank you so much to the Tranquility Grange for offering the space.

Have a wonderful week, Lincolnville. I am absolutely reveling in the autumn air, the changing leaves. After hitting up the fair with my bride Saturday morning, I got a bag of Cortlands (my favorite apple, if they are fresh off the tree) from Hope Orchard and enjoyed them with a bit of sharp cheddar while watching the Camden Hills football boys play Fryeburg Academy over the livestream. Much easier to follow with Fryeburg’s commentary and ability to zoom in on plays.

As always, hit me up with your town news at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, September 28

Select Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

School House Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Tuesday, September 29

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Wednesday, September 30

School House Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Library open 2-5

Thursday, October 1