[tummee]

Located an apartment that suits the needs of me, my girlfriend and my son, so as of Jan. 30th, it's, "Hello, Ozone Park. Goodbye, Rockaway."

I wanted to give a shout out to what has been my home for the past two years. Have never claimed "local" status anywhere, but having been a block from the ocean, or a short bike ride from the NSSS, I was beginning to at least feel like a regular. Heck, this past spring, I was walking back from a short longboard session and I heard someone call out to me, "Hey - it's Mr. 125!" Talk about stoke.

I won't miss the derelicts across the street in the BH Manor, or the drunks on 116th, or breaking up fights between the local kids and the Yeshiva students. I definitely won't miss the farking Shuttle train, or the hordes that descend on 116th during the summer months, the attitude they bring and the trash they leave. Nor will I yearn for the xenophobically-motivated four months of no parking on the streets during summer on the west end.

But I will miss taking my son down to the beach after work during summer to play in the water, or on the weekends to feed the seagulls. I'll miss the bike rides up and around Riis Park. I'll miss standing on the roof on July 4th watching fireworks in 360 degrees, the lights of ships in the Channel, waiting to enter the harbor. The fickle sandbars that shift with each storm, sometimes lame, sometimes perfect.

I'm only a short drive away now, so I will still call Rockaway my regular spot, and I still plan on making it in the water whenever there is swell. I just won't be able to do spot checks in person.

Big ups to Psycho - you are the only person I've consistently connected with in the water. Thanks for being cool, and I hope to see you soon. Big ups to Joe Clams - I've been slow in getting a board order to you, but I've enjoyed every conversation with someone who will undoubtedly be a shaper to watch.

I don't think I've ever been this stoked about Rockaway, now that I am leaving. So goodbye Rockaway. I'll miss you!  + 

[SeaCliff]

Located an apartment that suits the needs of me, my girlfriend and my son, so as of Jan. 30th, it's, "Hello, Ozone Park. Goodbye, Rockaway."

I wanted to give a shout out to what has been my home for the past two years. Have never claimed "local" status anywhere, but having been a block from the ocean, or a short bike ride from the NSSS, I was beginning to at least feel like a regular. Heck, this past spring, I was walking back from a short longboard session and I heard someone call out to me, "Hey - it's Mr. 125!" Talk about stoke.

I won't miss the derelicts across the street in the BH Manor, or the drunks on 116th, or breaking up fights between the local kids and the Yeshiva students. I definitely won't miss the farking Shuttle train, or the hordes that descend on 116th during the summer months, the attitude they bring and the trash they leave. Nor will I yearn for the xenophobically-motivated four months of no parking on the streets during summer on the west end.

But I will miss taking my son down to the beach after work during summer to play in the water, or on the weekends to feed the seagulls. I'll miss the bike rides up and around Riis Park. I'll miss standing on the roof on July 4th watching fireworks in 360 degrees, the lights of ships in the Channel, waiting to enter the harbor. The fickle sandbars that shift with each storm, sometimes lame, sometimes perfect.

I'm only a short drive away now, so I will still call Rockaway my regular spot, and I still plan on making it in the water whenever there is swell. I just won't be able to do spot checks in person.

Big ups to Psycho - you are the only person I've consistently connected with in the water. Thanks for being cool, and I hope to see you soon. Big ups to Joe Clams - I've been slow in getting a board order to you, but I've enjoyed every conversation with someone who will undoubtedly be a shaper to watch.

I don't think I've ever been this stoked about Rockaway, now that I am leaving. So goodbye Rockaway. I'll miss you!  + 

Fairwell..sort of, but I have to warn you - It's Hotel California: You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. 

See ya out there, tummee!

[ez_ed]

Well said, Tummee. Although I've only spent a very limited time in Rock, but i've appreciated the good, the bad and the ugly parts of the peninsula...
Ballin' at the B9 courts....
Drinking beers in deadbeat bars...
Biking the boardwalk in winter being chased by rabid feral dogs...
Skating a secret parking garage in Far Rock...
Longboarding with Tim in small, fun surf....

[pefa]

aloha ed .....
you were oceans away when i first startewd reading your stories and wished you wrote a book, then brutha tim nychc introduced me to ya & surfing w/ ya and sharing some aloha... good memories
aloha bruddah
cccchehooooooooamigogogogo

[ez_ed]

Good to hear from you, buddy.
Are you in California still?

[pefa]

nope back in da twin peaks of dogtown rockaway.....
dreamin of makin da dream of out to your lat/long sometime in da somewhat nearer rather than too much later future.....
aloha bruddahman