I was born and raised in East Hampton, Long Island , New York. Today kown simply as “The Hamptons.” I left there to join the Navy in 1971 and made a brief return in 1974. Back in the Navy by 1976 I never returned to live there again. I remember that place as it was in 1976.

East Hampton, as far back as the 1800’s was an attraction for the “summer” folks. It was a haven from the heat of New York City for those wealthy enough to afford weekend retreats. Artists, sportsmen and the wealthy elites would generally descend upon East Hampton the day after memorial day and stay until labor day. That was the season.

That is all in the past now, today there is no season, it’s 24/7 365 days a year. The “Hamptons” have become the amusement park of the wealthy, of those that crave the “in” scene, the hot spots. The park is open! I do wonder just how long that will last. How long will people afford the admission?

When I was young I heard the stories of the rich folks in their summer homes. They had servants and grand parties on their manicured lawns and did what the wealthy do. But, when I was young that had passed, the wealthy could no longer afford all those servants, the chauffeurs and a dedicated staff to maintain the grounds. The grandeur was gone.

I really can’t speak about what it is like today as I don’t live there. I just hear the stories from those that have remained, those I went to school with or worked with or for. I hear about the traffic, the congestion, the ridiculously high prices for everything. The cost of housing is astronomical and the taxes are mounting up. Worse still are those “locals” that have lost their voice in government altogether.

In thinking about that, my thought is, I wonder what it is like to live in the amusement park? All the attractions that I grew up are still there, the beaches, the ocean, the fishing, the beautiful scenery. The difference is now, I just work there. My access to the attractions are limited, the “guests” are always first in line. I exist to maintain the park, that’s my function in this society.

It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. We’ve all heard that said. Well, for me, I don’t even want to visit the place anymore. I don’t think I could take the shock! If you have lived in the park for the last fifty years or more the changes have been gradual. For me, I’m certain those changes would hit me like a brick. Most likely I would get thrown out of the park!

John Steinbeck – You can’t go home again because home has ceased to exist except in the mothballs of memory.