As we write this, spring is less than two weeks away. It has been a long, cold, hard winter for almost everyone. We spent the winter in Southwest Florida, and were in and out of New York twice, just long enough to feel how bitter cold it was. After experiencing some of the cold weather up north, we were ashamed of ourselves complaining that it was too cool in the mornings to have breakfast on the patio.

We haven't been sailing this winter, but we have been kayaking and have taken up a new hobby -fishing. We're saving the fish stories for another article. After countless walks on the beach, beautiful sunsets, and our first Jimmy Buffett concert, we are getting ready to return home to Oyster Bay.

Being down south for the winter may be paradise, but every evening when Bob's head hits the pillow, we are sailing in or out of Oyster Bay Harbor. When we get back to Oyster Bay, Shelley-Sue will cajole Bob into an early morning walk around the harbor each morning to count how many boats have been put on their moorings. Eventually, there will be more boats than we can count, and Bob will try to get away sleeping in, a little later each morning.

We will also return to the hustle and bustle of Sagamore Yacht Club. Shelley-Sue is returning as the fleet captain, and Bob has been made the Rear Commodore. The fleet captain position comes with the title "Captain," something that is much debated between the two co-captains on our boat. Bob's new responsibilities come with a parking spot. Bob is excited about having his own parking spot closer to the dock. That is, unless the Captain gets there first.

The fleet captain is responsible for organizing club raft ups and club cruises along the Sound. The rear commodore is responsible for entertainment. Sagamore is busy entertaining members year round with dinner parties, dances, family night potluck dinners, winter darts, bridge and skeet shooting. Now that spring is around the corner, we will be back to boating, sailboat racing, fishing derbies, and enjoying all that beautiful Oyster Bay Harbor has to offer. Also very exciting for this season, is that Fiddleheads, a highly rated seafood restaurant in Oyster Bay, has taken over the food service, offering to Sagamore members the only waterfront dining on Oyster Bay.

Last year, 40 new local families joined Sagamore Yacht Club. The club has both boating (regular) and non-boating (house) memberships. Sagamore is having its annual New Member Open House on Sunday, March 23, from 2 p.m.-5p.m. Why not stop down, and see what all the fuss is about? Maybe next winter, when your head hits the pillow, you'll be dreaming of sailing in Oyster Bay, too.

Bob and Shelley-Sue Williams can be reached at swpny@aol.com.