Adulting and the AVIS Summer Splash

Someone said to me the other day they were having a hard time adulting. He was bummed out because he had to deal with an unanticipated issue at work over the weekend. I tend to have the opposite problem; I can't stop adulting. Lately, I have been making a valiant effort not to worry about things I can’t control, things I don’t need to control, or things I shouldn’t control. I know – it sounds simple. But when you have been living the life of a problem solver, it is hard to stop solving problems, even if they’re not yours to solve. Even harder when they are. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not advocating sticking one’s head in the sand and wishing for the best. In my experience, 99% of the time that doesn’t work out. There is that 1% chance that you’ll get lucky, but those are tough odds.

Which brings me to the Amagansett Village Improvement Society and it's annual Summer Splash event. I know, the connection seems tenuous. Let me explain. I grew up in Amagansett, so Amagansett is in my blood. I now proudly claim my home hamlet as Springs, but I can't help telling people I am from Amagansett when they ask about my life in the Hamptons. Once I became old enough to go to a party and sustain a conversation for more than 2 minutes, I sometimes attended the AVIS Summer Splash event with my parents. At that time, it was filled with mostly local residents, and generations of Gansetters put on their summer casuals to support their home hamlet. The LaCarrubba’s have been donating a new bicycle for the AVIS’ raffle/auction for as long as I can remember.

This year, Kurt and I attended the event and had such a lovely evening talking with old friends from the neighborhood, new friends to the Hamptons, and meeting new acquaintances for the first time. Next thing I knew, it was 10:30 p.m. and they were kicking us out – we lost track of time. However, there was one point in the evening that struck me. I looked around the room at all the new faces while standing with some longtime residents of Amagansett - friends of my family who were born in Amagansett and raised their own families there. Over the years, so many have passed away, including my father this past December. What warmed my heart is so many of their children were at the event, including me, spending time with the next generation of Gansett residents, and carrying on the local tradition. Yes, it's true that there were more people at the Summer Splash that I didn't recognize than I did, but for the first time, I didn't care. We were there. I was there representing the Rana's, and the LaCarrubba's were there, the Bistrian's were there, as was a Fantini, the Whitmores, along with others.

Honestly, that is what adulting is – carrying on the traditions, events and holidays in your family, with your friends, and in your community. Sticking together and lending a helping hand in times of need. Adulting, for me, is carrying the torch forward. So thank you AVIS Summer Splash, for a beautiful evening and a new life lesson. See Tips and Trades for information on AVIS.

#Amagansett #AmagansettVillageImprovementSociety #Hamptons #Saturday #Weekend #Fun #Lifestyle #LifeLessons