The Summer That Wasn't In The Hamptons — Summer Is The New Fall

I am still waiting for a 95 degree day to go to one of the East Hampton Town beaches, where I'm able to park with my sticker enables me to park. A day when I can jump into the ocean and say, "Wow, the water is warm!"

So far, halfway through August, it has not happened.

Okay, I am retired and I have had quite a few great days this summer sunset sailing in Gardiners Bay, yet not once this year did I do my daily, "off the boat swim" and not wince when I enter Gardiner's Bay's pristine waters off Sammy's Beach.

Now, I didn't rent a home for $120,000 for the summer or book a weekend at Gurney's in Montauk, but I have worn my ski jacket in July at night in East Hampton for the first time ever, wondering what this is all about.

My point, what a weird summer this has been.

The prediction was for hot weather and a dry summer. There is no water emergency this summer. Just a great-weather-7-days-in-a-row shortage. I remember waiting for a table at local restaurant and ordering any frozen drink because it is so hot, but not this summer, so far.

On my sailboat I have sweatshirts, rain gear, along with fleeces and a winter jacket. This summer all have been used. I feel for the families I have observed walking around town during the day wearing sweats or long pants and jackets, or worse, one night driving past the Surf Lodge, I watched large groups of young ladies walking to the Surf Lodge in very short summer sundresses, quite frankly freezing.

It just seems either fall has come after spring or may not actually arrive at all in 2017. Yet the papers say 2017 is the warmest year ever. Fake news or just not on the East End, you pick one.