Living on the Chesapeake Bay: “Smooth as Buttuh”

Few places make lifetime nomads want to settle down, but it seems Oyster Harbor is one of those for Greg Machon and his wife Christine. The guy has simply been around a lot — around as in like living in 13 states and slated to visit his fiftieth this year! (He’s also been to numerous countries in the Caribbean, and the pair were married in Belize!)

So what would make this two service (Go Army!) ... er um, (Go Coastie!), veteran want to drop anchor? Well, that would seemingly be life on the Chesapeake Bay. Thus, the electronics tech slash petroleum supply specialist slash master truck driver slash IT professional decided to land himself a house on stilts...and a nice view to boot.

Most folks in Oyster Harbor probably know Greg -- and if they don't, they at least know his dog, "Butter." Advertised as an Australian Shepherd, Butter was not expected to be so big. Per her later doggy DNA test, Butter is part Rottweiler, Collie, Saint Bernard, and German Shepherd. Regardless, Butter has made a large impression on many of the community, by one sniff and pet at a time. Wandering from person to person with the greatest calm you've ever seen, Butter is sweet, mellow, and is nothing but your best friend. And yes, smooth as Butter.

So what brought the Machons to Oyster Harbor? Well, they were debating on having land (in a place like Westminster in the wide open spaces of Carroll County) or having waterfront property. While both have their charms, the latter won out when the couple saw their future home in Oyster Harbor. With an eye for detail and experience doing general contracting, Greg knew what he wanted. The couple rolled their sleeves up and with some serious elbow grease, updated their home to its current state.

Another thing Greg finds special about Oyster Harbor is the wildlife here. The Machons' backyard is frequently visited by ospreys, woodpeckers, redwing blackbirds, bluejays, wrens, orioles, bald eagles, blue herons, box turtles, foxes, deer, pitch black squirrels, and hummingbirds galore. (Let's neglect to mention that some of Oyster Harbor's non-human residents also like the Machons' house...and have liked to snack on it (or in it)!! ... Termites, squirrels, ants...etc.)

What Greg seems to love most about Oyster Harbor is how the community comes together. Whether it be in response to a house fire (little girls were asking after "Buttuh!"), community clean ups in resonse to hurricanes or the debris from the Conowingo Dam, socially distanced dog walking during the pandemic, helping out the elderly to procure goods and services, and even spreading salt for anticipated blizzards. As Greg says, "It's a cool town." (Greg himself contributes as the community harbor master.)

Naptown is indeed a place that has helped the nomad in Greg to put down a few roots, or at least, maybe some stilts... He and Christine did get a boat (or two or three??), however, and have taken many classes, become heavily active in the community, and plan to embrace the sailor's lifestyle once they have more free time later on in their careers. Regardless, they'll always have their house in Oyster Harbor. And yes, it's more than cheesy to say it, but for this couple it seems to be smooth sailin'...and yes, smooth as Buttuh.

(Editor's Note: photos courtesy of the Machon family.)