Liz Phair in the white Mustang

Sometimes it seems like I discover great tricks at the last possible moment I can use them.

I didn’t rent a car to come out east for most of the summer because this year my house is situated in a place that does not necessitate one.

It's a ten minute walk to Amagansett train station and the town of Amagansett. The beach is fifteen minutes away.

Last weekend, however, I stayed in another house and thus needed a car. When a friend saw that I'd rented one he told me the “trick,” eg take the train to an airport halfway out on Long Island, rent the car there, and then drive the rest of the way. The whole thing takes the same amount of time as driving or training from the city, and for half the price.

I made a reservation at a place in the city and at the one at the airport. It sounded like a good idea but a part of me still hesitated. It could just be too much of a shlep, I thought.

But then, Saturday morning, I decided to go for it. It turned out to be an all-around positive. A quick, no transfer (nor Jamaica station!) train ride, and a quick jump to 27.

Plus, and here's the best part, the rental car place at the airport gave me a white Mustang. The ultimate beach car. And I had a Liz Phair CD, her first and best.

Every summer of my life there are moments that define it all. Last summer it was this time I was having lobster rolls and beers with two friends at the Clam Bar in Amagansett and they were playing the Allman Brothers. The sun was shining. It was perfect.

This summer that moment was yesterday when I was pulling out of the rental car place lot in the white Mustang with Liz Phair blasting.

Doesn't get much better than that.