What is the setting of A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson?

Although the story begins at Joan's family home in Nyack, New York, and continues through Yale University, almost everything takes place in the seaside area of Cape Cod. This area is bustling with tourists or "summer people" throughout the summer months, but after Labor Day weekend, the town is nearly empty, giving it a much quieter, more intimate feel. When Joan was examining the simple wares at her local Cape Cod general store, the selection caused her to remark, "Nothing is complicated or fancy here, just practical and friendly." (Chapter 14, Safe Harbor, p. 157) Joan realized that this relaxed, honest atmosphere was exactly what she needed in order to continue on her path of growth, and decided that Cape Cod would be her home forever.