Fire Island Pines Thoughts I: Expectations

Okay, Easter wasn't as bad as I thought, and Michael's mother and I even talked! Omigosh! Of course, several glasses of wine helped the day go faster.

Although it's cold in New York today, I'm sitting at my office thinking, dreaming actually, of that first trip out to Fire Island for the 2007 season. Maybe just a day trip, maybe a weekend, we'll have to wait and see. Nevertheless, that first trip out is always filled with so much anticipation, excitement, and fun...of course with all those shirtless boys walking around, how could it be otherwise.

After you've bought your ferry ticket, and you're milling about the dock with the other guys, and few gals, too, all waiting to board the ferry for that 25 minute ride over the Great Bay, it's fun to people watch. There's the ubiquitous dog owners, with their "children" in tow, the two young guys you know just started dating, and this is, like, their first little get-away together, the older gay couple bringing out enough supplies to last two whole months on the island. All sorts make up our gay community, but there's one thing I've always loved, is that there is this underlying feeling of camaraderie, and people chat and nod as if we're one big family, though in many ways we are! Finally, the gates open, you hand in your ticket, and board the ferry.

Cutting across the water, watching as the Pines nears, you get this level of excitement as you plan your day. Coffee al fresco upon arrival, watching the hotties walk by for their morning paper at the Pines Pantry (grocery store), maybe walk along the beach to Cherry Grove, arriving as some of their nice little shops are opening. A day spent at the beach, and then Low Tea, High Tea, etc.

This photo is by a photo-journalist-blogger who's blog I ran across a year or two ago, and who is a superb photographer (quite the jet-setter, too). His name is Thomas Locke Hobbs, which is, like, such a cool name, and this picture is one he took while on Fire Island. When the gays go to the beach, they leave their shoes, sandals, and sneakers at the top of the stairs leading down to the beach (who needs sandy footwear?), and this picture is the first view you see as you approach the beach at Fire Island. Of course, what's ON the beach as you get nearer those stairs is an incredible site, too.

We'll talk more about Fire Island thoughts in subsequent blogs. For now, I'm content dreaming of that first trip of the season.