Growing up, and spending Summer vacations on the Cape made it so natural to purchase the house there. We look forward to opening the house in May and regret the task of closing it in November. We find it surprising that so many families opt for the high season in the summer while the off season offers people a chance to enjoy the tranquility and solitude of an uninterrupted beach stroll and the pleasures of autumn.

I grew up near Boston, went to college there, and upon earning my degree I found myself reporting to the Boston Army Base for induction. Yes, America used to draft - not a pleasant time to come of age. Luckily I got orders for Europe when many of my countrymen weren't as fortunate.

Little did I know how it would change my life forever. Having been taken in by the country I found myself being drawn back a few years later. It was in Heidelberg, the medieval home of Germany's oldest university, and the setting for the Student Prince is where I met my wife. The memories of our first few years play out like a fairy tale. A more romantic setting could not be imagined. It would be hard not to be taken in by its Old World charm. Even today, many years later, we still think fondly of our younger days there.

Wanting to keep our ties with Boston we bought the cape house for it was practical at the time and the perfect house for us. Our plan was to change just about everything over the upcoming years and that was accomplished a while ago. The things remaining from the early days are a classic Cape couch from the forties and a dining room set that fits in beautifully. In renovating the bathrooms we elliminated the bath tubs to avoid any future slips. As it turned out it was the right house then and is an even better one now.

We hope families driving a 150 miles enjoy our house as much as we do traveling 3500.

Jay & Helga Mahoney purchased this house in 1998

Since it's the dream of every kid from Boston to one day own a home on Cape Cod it came natural to seek out one there.

This was the third house we looked at and we knew from the get- go it was the one. Sitting up on the knoll with a huge expanse of land, twice as much as any other house on the street (only eight), the cathedral ceiling opening up the whole downstairs - it just seemed right.

We love working in the garden in the spring, whipping everything into shape. It seems with each passing year it takes longer and longer. What used to take three days now takes six (I'm down to half days) but it is still fun.If it weren't for Helga I'd still be at it when the first guests arrived.

There aren't many places like Cape Cod in the fall. It's breath taking. We would never think of coming in the high season. We'll leave that to families who can not come at any other time and who can brave the crowds and everything that goes with it. My only regret about the house is that we didn't buy it fifteen years earlier.

There is much to be said of the Lower Cape. To experience it, it will forever draw you back. It's almost like having all of the wonders of nature to yourself no matter how many others you're sharing it with.

.As far as the house goes there is nothing special or unique about it. It's like thousands of other Cape houses built in the late Eighties, except this one belongs to us. The house and what's in it reflect our taste and our lifestyle and we hope that our visitors will feel as comfortable there as we do.

It's too bad families today can't find the time to have the experience of that special day of hunting for their perfect summer house. If I had to choose my favorite childhood memory that would top the list, and I thank my parents for making those summers memorable. Maybe we can provide a few for your family.