The ocean was beautiful last week.  We feel so fortunate that we have relatively easy access to “living the dream,” as a good friend says.  

For so many years, I have tried to describe just where John, “JB,” Mr. Brennan worked. Nobody could understand the location, I would say, “Have you heard of Jacob Riis Park or Gateway National Park?” They would say, “Jones Beach?” I would say no, “Neponsit.” 

“Have you ever heard of Belle Harbor in the Rockaways?  What about Breezy Point?” I would ask.  “OK,” I would then say... “John’s Beach.” It was easier and well deserved. 

John was barely 16 years old when he started as a lifeguard in Rockaway, where he worked for 50 consecutive summers. His beach is 146. I used to walk up from my crowd on Bay 14 in Jacob Riis Park to visit this beach boy.

My next store neighbor, Malcolm Pease, was chief lifeguard at Riis Park. Our crowd hung out at Bay 14th, closest to the firehouse block, at the end. It was a good walk. Each bay, between jetties, contained slightly different  crowds.

The middle bays were for families.  

Bay One still seems to be mostly LGBT.

There  was usually a hole in the tall cyclone fence between the public beach and residential Neponsit. Back in the day, there were chaise lounges and umbrellas for the patrons. It provided jobs for local boys.  

We still make the drive often. John is greeted as if he is the mayor.  

Here are some other shots that capture the beauty of this special place.