Montauk Pioneer - October 31, 2008

Montauk stands tall as a mountain. While the whole country swoons in an economic meltdown, the Village of Montauk is vibrant. Janine Nelson, a real estate agent in town, confirmed that homes are holding their value and in fact her office has six closings scheduled. Out at Camp Hero the striped bass fishing this year has been as good as ever. The parking lot has been full of happy visitors and the town celebrated another wonderful fall festival including Grucci fireworks on a perfect night.

Kudos to Laraine Creegan for having a smooth weekend as the Montauk Chamber of Commerce tested soups, painted children's faces and had the usual children's rides. Once again Cathy and Rich McGuire had half the town at their hilltop home overlooking umbrella beach for the fireworks viewing. The gathering there symbolizes what a community Montauk always has been, but now the new buzz is that Montauk, the "Un-Hampton," is weathering this national storm like the skilled commercial fishermen brave the worst winter storms to bring home the fish.

Just the other morning I took pause to look at the gift of living here. The first fall frost had painted a white dust over the extremely green lawns as the blue sky faded into the ocean, both reflecting the exact same shade as the cloudless sky which featured the sparkling sun. Paradise.

In Montauk, it is tough to get inexpensive gas, stores in the winter are closed early so that after 9 p.m. it is hard to get supplies, and it takes longer to get here than any other place on Long Island from New York City, yet Montauk rules! Why? As Joan Bresadola, a time sharer at Gurney's said, "I work hard all year for my one week in Montauk. When things get tough at work or at home, I just think of Montauk, and I get through it."

How many others feel this way about our home? With oceans, lakes, and bays caressed by beautiful beaches, people come and come back. In fact, many retailers had a record August this year while the rest of the country was screaming gas prices. So it's no wonder Jimmy Buffet somehow hangs out under the radar all over town. He surfs his heart away with locals as if he went to East Hampton High School. Nancy Atlas and her son Cash hang at Ditch Plains with their friends talking family, life and summer. The tight business environment all over the nation that includes layoffs and plant closings seems to have hardened the affection Montauk residents and visitors possess. Ms. Bresadola, and her mother-in-law have been coming to Montauk long enough to notice the changes. But they see it for the better, more smiles, and friendlier people. So as the stock market seems to hang by a hair from falling to the ground, and credit is tight or denied to small firms, and as large corporations focus on their stock prices, the prices of homes in Montauk do not fall. People are in no hurry to panic sell. Ms. Nelson actually said, "Some people are happy they haven't sold. She said if they get their price then they will sell if not they are happy here. Writing for the Montauk Pioneer again was a wonderful experience this year. The merchants, the restaurants, the town officials and the people make my job a total pleasure.

Even if it as not "All about Lola," as Lola Esperian likes to say, it is about community, it's about positive energy, it's about a really nice place. So as the world turns and churns with every economic indicator not looking so hot, the economic indicators of Montauk say thumbs up. We head to the winter, the summer houses boarded up, the options for night life narrowing down, but people who are lucky enough to be here, live here, and thrive here. They know why they are here. It's not easy, it's very special. When my grandfather spoke of Montauk he spoke of a place hard to get to in the 1940s and 1950s, but so well worth it.