Winter on The North Fork of Long Island

January 8th, 2008 category: North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places

I am currently spending my sixth winter on the North Fork of Long Island. A bustling, sunny summer destination for those seeking the peace of a truly rural area, we are a vacation/second home spot for many.

Wintertime here slows what is already a desired and relaxed pace. Farm stands, once the family filled hot spots on weekends, take a winter solstice, with no produce to fill the shelves and baskets. While a few remain open, it is seasonal enjoyment.

Restaurants (one of a few exceptions is O’Mally’s ) often assume relaxed productivity by shortening hours, or days of operation. This is fine, because as locals, we expect it, and schedule our dining out accordingly. As long as hours in which to receive a great pizza remain steady (Pagano’s and Cheesy Charlies in Southold), we’re great!

Holiday weekends bustle with the return of family members lining the deli, freshly arrived from some far away college- I couldn’t help but think that it was nice to see this contingent, surely missed by the winter locals. One of my favorites, Wayside Market, recently reopened having experienced a fire. The store looks great; the crowd waiting in line over Thanksgiving seemed quite happy to wait, glad that the doors have reopened.

The Suffolk Times lists activities available for the North Fork “year rounders”, but sometimes it’s enough just to visit the empty beach, where deer are often found- their prints in the snow and sand belie their invisible presence. Owners bring their dogs to the beach, offering an off-season excuse to visit the quiet, shell-lined oasis.

This is a year round outdoor community if ever there was one- the walkers are faithful, and the reassurance that they bring is welcomed, because in the midst of the “quiet”, I’m reminded twice daily that this is, indeed, a vibrant community. Our dogs relax on the furniture awaiting an opportunity to voice their enthusiasm at anyone that happens to use the street in their world.

The North Fork of Long Island, particularly the hamlets east of Riverhead, is not for the nightlife loving crowd (although the younger set seems to enjoy Greenport ). Rather, it’s a place that has fought to retain a rural feel, offering a family oriented summer retreat, and a peaceful winter for those that call it home.

For weekend excursions to NYC, the Hampton Jitney offers ongoing opportunities for those seeking a bit of travel to one of the most amazing cities in the world- transportation in comfort provided, just a few hours away? Nice.

For anyone wondering what it might be like to spend winters in a “summer” environment, I can only offer the highest recommendations. No plane trip for world class shows-a Jitney. No flight for a beach, either Hamptons or North Fork- both within 45 minutes (or two minutes).

The ability to make “local” friends is one event (and often, less than a mile) away weekly- the offerings are ongoing, and available to all, from Scrabble to church events to charitable opportunities, to mothers with toddlers, to Bingo- it’s available.

We love it here, and would be happy to show you the opportunities that exist for you in the North Fork of Long Island. Contact Options Realty at 631-727-2227.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at 10:05 pm and is filed under North Fork Neighborhoods, People and Places. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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