t The Ice Age ensured that everyone living in the State of Maine today is “From Away.” We are all exiles from a prior existence, dreamers, immigrants. So any accurate description of Authentic Maine has to begin with, “No One is From Away.” Or “Everyone is From Away.” Your pick. Being a native used to come with bragging rights, but that was before we’ve come to understand we’re all descended from, on a timeless level, migrant tribes. No one has anything to prove here. We’re all looking for something; we’ve all arrived. We’re home if we say so. Smarting from being called a “year-round summer person,” I once proclaimed, “I’m a Main- er, born right here in Portland, in the same hospital as Stephen King–the Maine Eye & Ear Infirmary.” The skeptic narrowed his eyes and asked: “Really? What floor?” Eureka! We shared a smile. s u m m e r g u i d e 2 0 1 7 1 1 7 fr m Staff & ire reP rtS