Eastern Long Island and especially Montauk is my oxygen, my sanity. I grew up in Westchester and was always outside as a young child playing golf, racing One-Design sailboats in the Long Island Sound, and skiing in winter. I started coming out to the East End regularly when I graduated from college. For a few years I had a house with friends in Water Mill; we did a lot of road biking and beach running. My wife and I have been in Montauk for more than 12 years. In Montauk I rediscovered my love of golf and began surfing, mountain biking, and fishing. I used to get in three sports a day; now I’m settling for two, but as long as I’m out East and outside, it’s all good.

1. Surf casting at night. There’s a real beauty in slipping into the ocean at midnight in a wet suit and trying to figure out where the fish are and what they’ll bite. For gear, go see Paulie at Paulie’s Tackle of Montauk. 131 S. Edgemere St., Montauk, 668-5520

2. Mountain Biking in Hither Woods and Hither Hills. For maps and equipment visit Chris, who rents gear at Montauk Bike Shop. 725A Montauk Hwy., Montauk, 668-8975

3. Early morning or sunset beach runs between town and Hither Hills State Park.

4. Golf at Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course. Charlie Reidlinger, the superintendent, and Kevin Smith, the head pro, keep it at championship quality. The pro shop stocks all the best brands and has a top-notch instructional program. 50 S. Fairview Ave., Montauk, 668-1100

5. Free dive spearfishing. One of the best experiences of my life was free diving into a remote Montauk cove a few years ago. I caught a 15-pound bass and had to swim for an hour while carrying it.

6. Surfing Turtle Cove when the swell is working or dawn patrol at Ditch before the crowds are on it. For gear, see Stu at Main Beach Surf + Sport. 352 Montauk Hwy., Wainscott, 537-2716

7. Open water swims. Enter on Navy Road and find the flat water on the north side in Fort Pond Bay.

8. Sailing in Sag Harbor. My wife and I love to rent from Sag Harbor Sailing. Nice folks and spectacular sailing on Sag Harbor Bay, west to Noyack and into the Peconics or east to Gardiners Bay. 51 Pine Neck Ave., Sag Harbor, 725-5100