… but long that, the roofers showed up, fixed the problem (for free) and were gone. I realize that it is foolish to generalize about these matters but everything does seem to happen more easily – and more genially, on the North Fork. For example, Jose, the North Forker who moved my things from suburbia to here, stopped by the other day to fix the leg of my chaise lounge that he’d noticed had come loose during the move. He didn’t want any money either. “I just like to keep busy” he said.
Was this the real secret of the North Fork – not its food and wine or proximity to water (the ocean, the bay and Long Island Sound) but the fact that it’s a sort of Service Disney Land -where all repairs are swift and friendly and always, always free?
I decided I’d better keep the karmic balance intact by volunteering my own services too – so I called a couple local volunteer organizations (one with an irresistible title: the Sunshine Society) and asked if I could be of some use. I told them I was a journalist. They didn’t seem to be deterred by that fact. I even called a couple of winemakers too but I haven’t heard back. I’m waiting to hear what they think I can do…
