As we move into the center of September, we have lost most of our summer visitors. The neighbors houses are dark now, Main Street has parking places available throughout the evening, and the beaches have been returned to the walkers and the gulls.

But even though the seasonals have left, the season hasnπt. The water continues to be warm enough for swimmers and stripers, the surf has gotten large enough for adolescents young and old, and the golf courses and walking paths as green and as welcoming as July.

Money is still being made, of course. The Plutocrats Gulfstream in for a quick 18 at the new golf course before dinner at The Pearl. The weddings are going as fast as Ted Anderson can say the words and Polly Warner can dish the food. The Gray Line day-trippers wander around the historic district looking for t-shirts for the grand kids, ice cream, and the Oldest House. But on a Wednesday morning, you can park next to the Bartlett truck and spend a half hour on the bench talking baseball to Jack without smelling a cigar, hearing a cell-phone, or seeing any Lily.

September and October are the secret pleasures the island keeps for us all summer. They are the ≥After Hours≤ months that come after the crazy rush of July and August. We can all sit at the table, catch our breath and notice for the first time the great mackerel back skies of Autumn.

Looking around the roads this last week, familiar cars are newly weighted down with kayaks, fishing poles, surfboards, and golf clubs. We are all taking our island vacation in September this year.

What a great time to do it.