As we gradually made our way toward the East Coast we kept our itinerary loose, with one date in mind: July 28 for Lobsterfest in my hometown of Southold on Long Island, NY.  Since Rita’s first bite of lobster at age 6, she declared that it was her favorite food. The name alone for this annual fundraising event held at the beach by the local Rotary Clubs had her swooning. She’s been telling people we’ve met across the country that we were headed to New York to 1) see her mom’s family, and 2) go to Lobsterfest.

We made it out to the North Fork of Long Island, via ferry from Connecticut, on July 24 for a monthlong stay at the Eastern Long Island Kampground, just four miles from my parents’ house. My parents were hosting my siblings plus other visitors throughout August so it was good for everyone, including the dogs, to have our own space (with A/C) nearby.  Rita and Charlie got to enjoy sleepovers with their grandparents and aunts and uncles, while Chris and I had some alone time for the first time in a long time.
Aside from two excursions – to stay with good friends in Westchester County, and visit Sagamore Hill National Historic Site – for the most part we could be found at my parents’ house (the house my four siblings and I grew up in): hanging out with visiting family and friends; meeting our 5-month-old nephew/cousin for the first time; playing in the  beautiful yard and relaxing on the patio; coordinating car rides and meals.

I did many, many loads of laundry, and Chris made more than one Costco run.  We took Charlie to urgent care twice. Both times, I’m embarrassed to admit, ended up being nothing more than bug bites. (We really aren’t used to East Coast bugs, or their alarming looking bites and rashes!) We went for a sail on my Uncle Paul’s boat, and I stretched out in my sister Christine’s wonderful yoga classes.  Rita and Charlie learned about the Gagen family’s deep history in Southold, while Chris discovered his affinity for clamming in Peconic Bay, despite growing up in the mountains of Southern California.

We went to the beach, alternating between favorite spots at the Bay and Long Island Sound , depending on the time of day and our mood.  We visited a few of the many wineries on the North Fork, enjoying a glass with peaceful views of vineyards and farmland. We consumed a bounty of local fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and clams, and the incomparable New York deli breakfast sandwiches.

It was wonderful to see so many friends and family, and yet there were still many other good friends, on Long Island and in NYC, that we missed. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a beautiful place with such a close-knit, if geographically spread out, family. We all love to spend time in Southold, and look forward to returning.