I left an advertising job in New York City in 1968 to work in admissions at Bowdoin College. At the time, my boss in New York said to me, “Maine? Great state. I’d move to Maine if there were any money to be made there.” After three years here, I moved on to pursue other career opportunities. Then I returned for good in 2002. The operative word is “good.” Brunswick is a good town, an extraordinary place to call home.

Consider our assets:

Bowdoin College. Bowdoin offers concerts, lectures, plays and games (“Go, Bears!”). The Walker Art Museum ranks among the very best college museums. The Bowdoin International Music Festival attracts supremely talented young musicians every summer. And the Maine State Music Theater on Bowdoin’s campus offers superb professional entertainment. Bowdoin students, faculty and staff enrich the town’s economy and diversity. Not surprisingly, many students choose Bowdoin, in part, because of Brunswick’s ambience and accessibility. If you were a prospective student, would you rather be in Lewiston (Bates), Waterville (Colby) or Orono (University of Maine) then Brunswick?

Maine Street. It’s wide and majestic, conveying that traditional small town feeling. And almost every store on both sides is independent and owner-operated, not a seen-one-seen-’emall franchise. I, for one, am delighted that the heart of our town offers coffee drinkers the Little Dog Cafe, the Wild Oats Bakery and the Bohemian Coffee House rather than Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.

The Mall. Skating in the winter and concerts in the summer. The twice-weekly summer farmers’ market on the mall combined with the Crystal Spring Farmers’ Market make Brunswick a locavore’s dream.

Recreational Outlets. The Town Common. Hiking trails. Biking paths. Golf courses. Wide-open spaces for cross country skiers.

An Amazing Choice of Restaurants. I won’t cite any restaurant by name, to avoid stepping on toes, but this town offers an incredible array of culinary experiences. Kudos to local foodies of all ages and tastes who support so many fine choices!

History. Joshua Chamberlain. Harriet Beecher Store. The First Congregational Church. Fort Andross (a great asset to this day with its shops, stores, offices and restaurants). Federal Street. The swinging foot bridge over the Androscoggin.

Curtis Memorial Library. Outstanding in every respect. And the library’s annual June Book Sale delights readers who love finding books at bargain prices.

Quirky Movie Theaters. I’d choose the locally owned Eveningstar Cinema or the Frontier Cafe movie theater over one of those loud, garish, chargebig bucks-for-the-popcornand soda cinema megaplexes any day of the week! (Plus the movies are better.)

Train Station and Bus Service. Three cheers for public transportation!

Access to Water. Popham Beach. Reid State Park. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. Morse Mountain. Casco Bay. Harpswell and the islands.

And More. L.L. Bean (and the rest of Freeport). Portland (often lauded in national small city rankings). The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.

You get the point. I love this town. And I’m not alone among people in my age group. It’s no surprise that Brunswick often appears on “Best Places to Retire” lists. At least 15 of my Bowdoin classmates (Class of 1964) have moved to the Brunswick area over the last 10 years. An elephant never forgets the way to the watering hole and a Bowdoin Polar Bear never forgets the way back to Brunswick.

So, when my dear sister Martha, a Florida resident, calls in the middle of winter and chortles, “How much snow do you have up there, brother Dave?” I say, “A lot and we love getting out in it.” Sure, March can get cold and old, but would I ever move away from Brunswick? Not on your life. Or, more accurately, not during my life.

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David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary as well as ideas for future columns at dtreadw575@aol.com.