As one ages, they witness the phenomenon of people and businesses moving in and out. The Hamptons is a unique place for change, perhaps because it has become a beacon for both old wealth and new wealth. It has a historical past; the latest jets and helicopters fly over while bringing in the trophy folks. It is strange how much change we watch in a lifetime as it is strange how much we change in a lifetime. Most of us change hopefully for the good, some of us for the bad.
I find nothing more thrilling than meeting a new brilliant, forward-thinking mind. The people who see things clearly as they are. also know their path and navigation into their futures. I suppose one might say they have a gift. Is there any wonder folks like this enjoy locating, vacationing or living on the east end? Watching events around the world only makes me want to stay safe on the East End. I was the dude whose high school yearbook said, “Can be found anywhere but home.” Always love to travel to wonderful places, but that has changed. It just gets harder for me to enjoy the actual traveling part. Unless, of course, if you are a “wheels-up” private jet owner, you may not have my concerns.
I came from a solid home, my folks actually lived in the same home for 40 years. A home where my dad chose to die in his bedroom surrounded by his family. It hasn’t been until recently that I felt no need to use my passport as I once did. I love Rome, Paris, London, Mexico, Italy, and even Canada, but I rather spend all of my summers on the south shore of the east end. Even though I have spent the last twenty years living full-time on the east end of Long Island (always less than 11 miles from the ocean), I will never truly consider myself a Long Islander. I was born and raised elsewhere, but when I arrived here, I stayed. I found love, peace, and purpose.
Like everyone else on the east end, a surprise huge traffic snarl can really piss me off, especially if it’s not a predictable one. I use my car to go everywhere. I don’t take buses, trains, or ferries daily at all, like I once did working and living in Manhattan. I was one of those guys who took dates or friends for post-midnight free rides on nth Staten Island Ferry on very hot summer nights on the spur of the moment. Now my wife and I walk to the beach daily to see if there are whitecaps on the bay and look out and see the breach into the ocean.
Hard work, good habits, ethics, and some breaks and luck help make a successful life. Or, being born to the right folks. Money isn’t everything or the only thing, but it is an important tool. It is tough to do great things without it in the equation somewhere. Before moving to the east end, I practically lived to accumulate it. When I landed on the East End, my goal wasn’t money, it was to continue feeling that special feeling of peace I felt when everything in my life was broken. People said, “I was hiding in the Hamptons.” Perhaps, they were right, I was hiding from who I was, not who I wanted to be. Make no mistake about it, money does somehow help make the world go round. As the man paid to train me at Northwestern Mutual said, “Money doesn’t bring happiness, but it can buy you the car you drive around in to find it.”
My father knew he nearing the end of his life, taught me something when he said to me, “Tom, I have more money than time.” I understood what he meant. Time is the commodity that means the most near the end of one’s life. I choose to spend what is left of my time at home, near the ocean and bays, with my wife. Our time together is special. John Lennon said two things I think about every day. “All you need is love,” and “Something will happen.” Something happened to me, I landed on the east end and then found Cindi.
