Drakes Island is...

... walking with your husband and the same two dogs down the same stretch of beach at the same time of year as you did when you got engaged eight years ago, but this time with your children in tow.

... jumping in the car with your two boys and two dogs to go for a pre-bedtime drive around town, only to end the drive about 10 seconds later as you pull up to the jetty at the perfect time to watch the sun set over Wells Harbor and decide that watching the sunset on the beach in your jammies is a much better idea.

... sleeping with the windows wide open so you can listen to the sound of the waves as you drift off to sleep and wake up to the crisp, cool air.

... watching your four-year-old go from not being able to pedal a bike to riding it back and forth across the street the next day to "Uncle Shailer's driveway" like his dad did as a little boy.

... watching the same little boy count the days until Pappa Ken would arrive so he could take him on a bike ride "all the way to the stop sign" [down Drakes Island Road].

... cramming five adults, five children and six dogs into a small cottage so you can spend Labor Day weekend with family.

... plopping your one-year-old son down in the sand on the beach for the first time since he learned how to walk and seeing the twinkle in his eye as he walks as fast as he can to the ocean, carefree and fearless.

... watching as your family plays baseball on the beach -- your husband as the pitcher, your four-year-old as the batter, your one-year-old as the "catcher" and your nine-year-old golden retriever as the outfielder -- while your ten-year-old soaking wet golden retriever sits in your lap (you and the dog being "the people" which is what your four-year-old calls the fans), and realizing this is one of the best moments of your life.

... looking on as your two children play with their cousins on the same beach that four (five???) generations of your husband's family have spent their summers and realizing that although it has changed a lot, it really hasn't changed at all.

... catching up with friends you haven't seen in a whole year and feeling like no time has passed at all.

... giggling on the inside as you watch your son and his Crazy Aunt Melissa as they try to dig all the way to China, stopping periodically to listen to hear if they can make out anyone speaking chinese.

... digging trenches and building sandcastles with Granny Annie on your last day on Drakes Island and realizing that she is enjoying it just as much as her grandson and that you have never seen her look so lovely.

... being so exhausted by the end of the day that even the luxury of being able to watch your beloved Red Sox on NESN cannot keep you awake past 8:30.

... realizing you could have packed a bathing suit and one change of clothes and still had plenty to wear during your 9-day stay.

... getting tears in your eyes as you cross the bridge on the way off the island, knowing that a whole year will pass until you get to experience this slice of heaven on earth again.