The Arlington Massachusetts years were much more than a change of address. They became a warm, active family chapter with Bernie, Noel, and Sean—years filled with everyday life, weekend adventures, long drives, bicycles, kayaks, mountains, beaches, and the simple pleasure of introducing two growing boys to the outdoor world that had shaped so much of my own life.
A snapshot of the Arlington years
Before diving into the individual stories, these two collages capture the spirit of 2004–2010: family, hiking, paddling, road trips, beaches, everyday life, and countless weekends spent exploring New England together.
A family chapter with Bernie, Noel, and Sean
Living in Arlington with Bernie, Noel, and Sean became one of the happiest and most active chapters of my life. The house was not simply where we slept between work and school. It was the starting point for family routines, conversations, laughter, and a steady stream of adventures.
The boys were growing up, full of energy and curiosity, and I loved helping them discover the outdoors. I had spent much of my own life learning through hiking, paddling, climbing, camping, and traveling. Sharing some of that with Bernie, Noel and Sean gave those skills and experiences an entirely new meaning.
Looking back, the most important memories are not only the big trips. They are also the ordinary evenings, the meals, the drives, the planning, the joking around, and all the small moments that no one realized would someday become precious.
Weekends were made for exploring
Very few weekends were spent simply sitting around the house. We were usually heading somewhere in New England—toward a trail, a beach, a river, a campground, or a place where the boys could climb, paddle, bike, and explore.
Willard Brook State Forest was one of those familiar escapes. Even though Arlington placed us close to Boston, it was still easy to reconnect with the quieter forests, ponds, and back roads of central Massachusetts.
Those outings did not need to be elaborate. A good day outside, some food packed in the car, and enough time to wander were often all we needed.
Bicycles meant freedom
One of the greatest pleasures was watching the boys discover that bicycles were more than toys. They were freedom. Neighborhood rides could become longer trips on rail trails, quiet roads, or coastal paths.
Riding together taught patience, confidence, and independence. The point was not to cover the most miles or go the fastest. It was to keep moving, look around, and discover what was just beyond the next turn.
Those rides became part of the rhythm of family life—another way to spend real time together without screens, schedules, or much need for conversation beyond deciding where to go next.
Acadia in 2006
The Arlington years also included larger family trips, and Acadia National Park became one of the most memorable. The combination of rocky coastline, mountains, carriage roads, ocean views, and endless places to explore made it a perfect destination for us.
Trips like Acadia were not about expensive resorts or rigid itineraries. They were about spending long days outside—walking, climbing over rocks, exploring shorelines, taking photographs, and seeing what each new road or trail might reveal.
The July 2006 photographs preserve not just a vacation, but the feeling of traveling together while the boys were still young enough for every place to seem new.
Watching Sean explore
Several of the photographs from Acadia focus on Sean. Seen together, they form a small story of their own: a young person exploring, gaining confidence, and becoming comfortable in wild places.
Watching that happen was deeply satisfying. I had benefited from patient teachers and outdoor mentors throughout my own life, and I understood how much confidence can grow when someone is encouraged rather than rushed.
The best outdoor lessons often happen without anyone announcing that a lesson is taking place.
The mountains were always calling
Even while living close to Boston, I never lost the desire to head for the mountains. Family hikes gave Noel and Sean a chance to scramble, test themselves, and discover how rewarding it could be to reach an open summit after working for it.
One hike I especially remember was Mount Chocorua, where the open granite near the summit turned the final part of the climb into a natural playground. The boys loved the scrambling, and I loved seeing their confidence grow on rough terrain.
Those days were never only about reaching the top. They were about encouragement, patience, shared effort, and the long conversations that happen naturally while walking together.
Simple evenings mattered too
Not every memorable experience required a mountain, a national park, or a long drive. A beach fire, a cool evening, and good company could be enough.
The photographs from September 2006 preserve one of those simpler nights. Firelight, sand, conversation, and the gradual fading of daylight created the kind of memory that becomes more valuable with time.
The Arlington years taught me that happiness is often found not in the size of an adventure, but in sharing ordinary adventures with people you care about.
Looking back
Every chapter of life eventually changes, but some leave a permanent mark. My years with Bernie, Noel, and Sean did that.
When I look at these photographs now, I do not simply remember where they were taken. I remember how much fun we were having, how much the boys were learning, and how meaningful it felt to share the outdoors with them.
Arlington was a family chapter, an adventure chapter, and a teaching chapter all at once. The photographs preserve the places, but the real story is the time we spent together.