Opinion: Locals wonder aloud, when will they ever learn

It doesn't take long to fall in love with the east end of Long Island. Some are born in the historic land, others visit and stay. And then there are those with second or third or fourth cottages out here.

I am a daily sailing visitor who twenty years ago sought refuge in East Hampton Town after divorce, business collapse and 9-11. I have tried to always respect the traditions and ways of the natives of the east end. At first not being a “Citidiot” was a daily chore, but over time this pattern of behavior diminished. As I have said every day in the ten years I have lived in the Springs, EH Village and Montauk, I am a visitor.

There has never been a shortage of rich people in the east end, going back to David Lion Gardiner in 1639. However, these days wealth for some is measured in the billions of dollars. Honestly in the Hamptons and Montauk one would be hard pressed to find a house under a million dollars. There are people who never made more than $100,000 living in multi-million dollar homes that they or their families bought for less than $100,000 decades or in some cases hundreds of years ago.

The situation now is so simple. Anyone interested in preserving the east end which I believe is God's gift to Long Island?

Luxury development issues with fresh water and waste management come into focus. Then there are new growing concerns about private jets, helicopters and jumbo super yachts, not to mention seasonal vehicular traffic on main roads.

Unfortunately, affordable housing for heritage locals and nuts and bolts people has passed the point of no return. Who can deny that there is a shortage of workers in the east end and perhaps the cost of living here is a huge contributing factor.

As a visitor I cannot dictate what should happen and I can only hope that local families can hold hands to keep the east end the jewel it has always been. When I lived in Montauk it was “Unhampton”. Now some might say it's become the “SuperHampton!”

I remember the days when young hard working families came to Montauk for summer vacation. The town was filled with new parents and their children. Nowadays this is not financially feasible. It's actually cheaper to fly out and vacation in Mexico for a week, then drive and stay in Montauk.

Statistics state that there are over 130 million single people in America. This affects the way of life in the country in many ways, including the eastern end. Somehow there is no shortage of available buyers for the million dollar Hampton homes on the market. This must be causing a change in the overall behavior and attitudes of the population in the east end both in summer and winter.

The change happens slowly and then is noticed suddenly. It has happened in the school system and in the workforce. It has become American history. How this story plays out is in the hands of both those who work full-time and live in the east end and second-home owners. There are no answers or immediate solutions to what comes next. There are only good people who care and do everything to preserve the best of what was, while wisely managing what will become.