A friend of mine who is an artist once explained why the light here is so beautiful for painters. Think of Nantucket as an island sitting on a mirror, which is actually the ocean surrounding it, he said. The ocean reflects all the light from the sun, creating this lyrical setting in which we live. There is indeed something alluring about living on the water. The ocean surrounding us represents so many possibilities, real and metaphorical. For true islanders, born and bred here, the ocean is an avenue to new worlds. Our forefathers were whalers and set sail for the other side of the Earth from Nantucket. We do the same. We love to travel and it is not at all unusual to be vacationing on the other side of the world and bump into a Nantucket neighbor, especially if you are vacationing on an island. Our life here is defined by the ocean and our isolation. Winds can whip the waters into a frenzy during winter storms and keep us here for days at a time as all transportation to and from the island is canceled. For those of us raised here, that feeling of isolation can be exciting, even comforting. For those not born on the water, it can send them into a panic. Back in my college days at the University of Denver, I told a friend from Wyoming how claustrophobic I felt stuck in the middle of the country. He couldn't understand it and felt living in the wide-open spaces of the prairie on the edge of a mountain range was the definition of freedom. To him, living on an island surrounded by water would be akin to being trapped. No, no, no, I explained. The ocean is an avenue of escape. Living on the water means you can jump in a boat and set sail for anywhere, any time. That is the difference in our perspectives. This August issue of Nantucket Today celebrates our island life "On the Water." We look at the struggle of Nantucket's last offshore fisherman, Bill Blount, to maintain his boat, the Ruthie B, and a way of life that is fast disappearing from the Northeast due to overfishing and tightened federal regulations. We also focus on the luxurious aspect of oceanside living with a profile of Nantucket's elegant Galley Beach restaurant, owner David Silva and chef Neil Ferguson, a disciple of Gordon Ramsay. August also means it's time for some serious sailing. Mid-month the Opera House Cup, that 42- year-old race for classic wooden boats, takes place in Nantucket Sound. The sponsor of this race, Panerai, has been celebrating its passion for sailing for a decade now with its Classic Yachts Challenge that begins in the Caribbean in April, migrates across the Atlantic in June in the waters off France, Italy, Spain and the UK, and ends up in New England at Marblehead, Nantucket and Newport in August and September. Read all about it in this month's issue. In the meantime, see you on the water! Marianne R. Stanton Editor and Publisher