The beauty and abundance of our beaches, striking sunsets and blooming flora, ice-cream and lobster shacks, the lush landscapes and temperate climate perfectly suited for countless outdoor activities, from biking to sailing to golf to slow strolls through town or along the harbor — the appeal of summers on Cape Cod is obvious. More than 4 million visitors flock to the Cape during the high season, from day-trippers to temporary residents, and many have made a Cape trip a summer tradition, returning year after year. What might seem less obvious — at least, to those who don't live here — is what the Cape has to offer during the rest of the year.

Cape Codders and visitors agree that it takes a special kind of person to live on the Cape year-round: one who can endure the brutal weather and stark isolation of the winter months. In fact, among locals, there is a pecking order for those who call Cape Cod home. Those who live here full-time are called residents or year-rounders; this is not to be confused with being a native Cape Codder. Having been born on the Cape holds a special distinction; if you were not, you are a "washashore," and there is no exception to this rule. The truest salt-of-the-earth natives boast generations of family born on the peninsula, and being a native who has chosen to stay and raise a family here is a point of pride; it takes a hardy person with a true love for all that nature cooks up to ride out a lifetime on these windswept shores.

It isn't always easy to live in Cape Cod. In addition to the rough winters, being here year-round is a financial challenge for a large portion of the Cape's 220,000 permanent residents. Many take on several jobs or work off-Cape and commute home each night to make ends meet. But to a Cape resident, life here is more than worth these difficulties. All of us, native and washashore alike, are bound by our common affection and respect for the ocean and the Cape's environment, and this sentiment runs deep, even on the darkest days of winter.

Full-year residents see the beauty in every season on the Cape. Although we love summers here — for many of the same reasons that draw the tourists — we live for the off-season. Come Labor Day, the crowds disappear and traffic congestion subsides, and Cape residents eagerly reclaim our beaches and resume our quiet everyday lives. For the next nine months, until Memorial Day comes around again, we return to our seaside walks on crisp mornings, the familiar smell of low tide and the marshes on the way to work, and kayaking, fishing, and sunset strolls to end the day. To us, this is the Cape's true personality — one most visitors don't see.

Tourism in the shoulder season has increased in recent years, as more people discover that the simple beauty of the Cape's natural surroundings is more serene and easily appreciated without the summer crowds. The Cape no longer rolls up its sidewalks and packs away the fun after Labor Day, and many businesses now open for the season as early as March or April. Those who come here in the few weeks before or after the high season are treated to a taste of what Cape residents love so much about their home.

Before the summer crush hits, Cape Cod awakens with beauty in spring. Cheery daffodils line the streets, birds dart through the air in hypnotizing formations, bunnies hop through yards, and fishing for schoolie (baby striped bass) begins. And after Labor Day, temperatures stay mild through early to mid-October. This is, for many, the ideal time to enjoy the shores — the waters have had time to warm from months of summer sun, parking restrictions are lifted, and beachgoers have all the space they need to spread out. Autumn leaves and cranberry harvests paint the area with brilliant swaths of color, creating stunning views.

But visitors still tend to shy away from the peninsula once the first hints of cold air blow in. Some are surprised to learn that average winter temperatures on the Cape are actually milder than on the mainland. Despite this, the colder months are known to bring some difficult weather conditions, but Cape locals know how to make the best of it. Fall and winter nor'easters — powerful storms that carry in cold air from Canada — leave us in awe of the ocean's power.

Most of us are content to observe these captivating scenes from indoors, but some local surfers will brave the action off the Lower Cape. These infamous storms also strengthen the sense of community here, as we check on our neighbors and help each other board up buildings and tie down our belongings. Some residents view the harsh weather as character building, a challenge to overcome. I share my life with a Cape native who says, "I have a certain sense of satisfaction knowing that I beat the weather. When I come home from work on those days when it is 10 degrees out with 40 mph winds and I just put a cap on a roof, I feel a real sense of accomplishment."

Yet, even living just steps from the shore, we are always trying to get closer to nature. Peek into the home of a Cape resident and you're likely to see windowsills lined with seashells, sea glass, driftwood, fish bones, and pieces of mystery items that landed on our shores. You might see mantels made of driftwood or driveways of crushed shell. We use clamshells as ashtrays, soap dishes, and coin holders. The longer you live here, the more you bring the outdoors in as close as possible. The connection to the ocean grows stronger and freeing as material needs lessen. Life simplifies, and crossing the bridge to leave for good becomes inconceivable.

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