The Sea View has the charm of an old family cottage, rustic wood interiors (the unfinished kind), a screened-in porch with a help-yourself bar, dog-eared books, hammocks, and checkers boards.

The rooms are earnest in their furnishings. That is to say, they get the job done, but they aren't fancy. (Showers are at the end of the hall.)

Meals are served three times a day by a cook who has been there longer than the present-day owners. I recall particularly eating Coca Cola cake. The menus are planned out for each week and I believe they are highly ritualized. Everyone eats together, family-style. You can get eggs made-to-order for breakfast!

This is the kind of place where you can be alone without feeling lonely. The view is spectacular off the front porch and the backyard is landscaped like a butterfly garden. I loved staying here.