Luke Simpson and his wife, Courtney, grew up summering on Cape Cod. He lived in Foxborough, and she was from California, but they shared idyllic South Wellfleet for a few months of the year. His parents owned a restaurant named Serena’s, which they have since sold (Russ and Marie’s Marconi Beach BBQ and Seafood Restaurant operates in the spot); her grandfather had a cottage on a cliff in Wellfleet. The home has since lost its battle with Mother Nature, which eroded the cliff.

Luke and Courtney are now teachers at Nauset Regional High School, which draws not only from Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, but from other communities via school choice. Luke teaches environmental science and oceanography; Courtney teaches biology and biotechnology.

Luke had worked at Chatham High School and Monomoy Regional High School (the product of the Chatham/Harwich merger) before getting the job at Nauset. His commute is much nicer: five minutes (longer when he bikes there).

Back in 2004, when the Simpsons were looking for a house, they considered many of the Outer Cape towns. Because they were living on two teacher’s salaries, Wellfleet was a little out of reach money-wise. North Eastham was a welcome, slightly more affordable option.

During their summers off, they are busy with their daughter, Finley, 6, and visiting friends and family. Each picks up a shift or two tending bar at the Beachcomber Restaurant in Wellfleet. Luke has worked there summers on and off since sorting cans as a teenager.

In the offseason, when school is not in session, the family still flocks to the beach, where for years Luke has photographed the winter surfing culture for magazines.

“I like that you have it virtually to yourself for the other 10 months of the year,’’ he said.

Scott Lajoie is a freelance writer on the Cape. He can be reached at ScottLajoie@hotmail.com.