Dear Cape Friends,
If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been with me for a while, welcome back! Each week I share Cape Cod Real Estate with a side of humor, common sense, and a splash of salt air.
This past Monday morning started the way many Cape Cod winter mornings do - half-awake, under-caffeinated, staring at the driveway wondering when exactly snow became this heavy.
Before coffee had a chance to kick in, barely breaking first light, I was already outside, shovel in hand, trying to get ahead of what meteorologists politely referred to as “a few inches.” My lower back, however, immediately requested a second opinion. This wasn’t fluffy postcard snow. This was dense, wet, cling-to-everything snow - the kind that makes you stop mid-shovel, lean on the handle, and wonder out loud whether this qualifies as heart-attack-level snow.
A Brief Lesson in Cape Cod Etiquette
After a short break, while clearing the end of my driveway, I committed what I thought was a harmless winter reflex: shoveling snow into the street.
Apparently, this is not universally appreciated.
A passing driver slowed down, stopped, rolled down her window to inform me, loudly and with great authority, that you cannot shovel snow into the road. Are you friggin serious lady??
For a brief moment, I had several internal thoughts running at once. I was in-between dialing 911 because of chest pains, and, on the edge of unloading a series of unholy expletives which are probably not appropriate for print. In reality, I smiled, waved, and kept moving...
(For context only: the car did feature a very large political statement sticker. I’ll simply note that detail and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions.)
In hindsight, it was one of those very Cape moments: cold, irritated, slightly funny, and a reminder that we’re all just trying to get through the same storm - preferably without sliding sideways at the stop sign.
For the record, I checked: Yes, I actually called the Chatham PD. Aside from the dispatcher thinking the story was hilarious, he explained – that legally “placing snow from private property into the street is prohibited under local bylaws, authorized by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 85, Section 5”. Really? I’m calling Judge Judy immediately….
And Now… Another STORM Lining Up. - As if Monday weren’t enough, the forecast is now pointing to a strengthening Nor’easter lining up behind this system, with current projections suggesting another 12–15 inches. What the fluff??????
No official name yet (the last one was Fern), but it’s gaining strength. And btw, since when are we naming blizzards?
Near the shore especially, weather plays by its own rules. My “Uncle Gene” - a longtime Chatham local who is always handy with important life-saving information, like tidal charts and obscure boating wisdom, explained that this one is being driven by an “ocean effect,” pulling moisture straight off the Atlantic. Cool, right..?
Naturally, I asked if that means we’re getting salt snowflakes? His answer: “I dunno, call your Weather Channel buddy,Jordan Steele”. Jordan, if your reading this… we need you!
Where Homes Come Into This (Quietly)
Moments like this have a way of reminding you that a house isn’t just an address or a number - it’s a living system that reacts to stress, maintenance, and time.
Storms tend to expose the weak spots:
Roof load – Drainage - Ice dams - Power reliability - How prepared (or not) we really are
For anyone who owns a home here -year-round or seasonal- moments like this shift the focus away from value and towards stewardship.
A Final Thought
If there’s one upside to these winter whiplash days, it’s that they pull us out of autopilot. They remind us to slow down, check on neighbors, pace ourselves, and maybe laugh a little when things get absurd - even if that laughter comes halfway through shoveling while on the edge of a heart attack.. (funny, not funny..)
If you’re around Friday morning, I’ll be at the Chatham Perk from 8:00–9:00am. Coffee’s on me. Weather complaints welcome!
See you around the elbow (and stay safe out there),
Paul
P.S. If you’re starting to think about buying or selling, PaulBorde.com is a good place to browse listings, catch past newsletters, and stay current on the market - and, if I may say so, revisit a few of my Pulitzer Prize–level past newsletters.