[Island Life]

As a consumer of the Boston media in the non-summer months, I can say that I never once heard about the speed limit debate in the Boston-area TV, radio or print media. Maybe I missed the odd reference.

But yes, I did read some of the bickering threads about the topic on this forum. But that required knowing about the forum and actively searching for/reading news and comments about the proposed legislation.

My guess is that only a tiny fraction of visitors to this area consult or even know about this forum. I can't imagine the bickering comments and references to lawlessness made much, if any, impact on the number of visitors this summer.

Instead, I blame the low boat traffic on high gas prices, the wet, and recently cold, weather and the economy. Although we live on an island and must use our boat regularly for errands, etc. I would estimate that I used the boat about 2/3 less this summer than I did last year. At $3.35/gallon, my kids can live without weekly trips to Center Harbor for ice cream, Wolfeboro for lunch and all that tubing.

And while I feel for all of you small business owners, the self-interested part of me really enjoyed the quiet lake this summer.