Jologs New Yorker in the Berkshires

Ok, so technically, this post should be in another category... but it is still true to the theme of a jologs having good fun in a place where you normally need to be a non-jologs to enjoy.

I spent an entire month in the Berkshires, a grouping of upscale towns in Western Massachusetts (about 3 hours from Boston). The place is known as the summer destination of wealthy New Yorkers seeking to escape the heat of the city. The Berkshires is the epitome of New England life. WIth its gorgeous houses and million dollar views of lakes and mountains, I could hardly remember the time when I lived in the ghettos of the BX.

I was fortunate enough to receive a fellowship from the American Institute of Economic Research (we are thinking of changing it to the Alcoholics' Institute of Economic Research). For a month, there was a bit of work and lots of hard play. We were all housed in a summer mansion built in the 1920's whose "backyard" was surrounded with evergreens, views of the mountains, and even a lake!

Twice-a-week movie nights were a treat with really good wine and cheese being served. So "Commanding Heights" was hardly a movie that draws crowds, but the perks of sitting through the history of the Great Depression was well worth it.

Although restaurant food in the Berkshires was disappointing, what with its mediochrity and priciness, grilling in the "castle" was something to look forward to. Best of all, my newly found Swiss friend was the in-house bartender fixing us some White Russians even before dinner found its way to the table. Lobster night was also an unforgettable meal.

There was also some hiking to the falls and the open air theater at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home. It was the life--picnic (of course, wine is never lacking) in the Tanglewood lawn while listening to the orchestra play just made me wish the month would never end. Best of all was the presidential float trip. Every session, the AIER's CEO would take the summer fellows to a canoe trip down the Housatonic River. We took two canoes and three truck inner tubes (AKA giant salbabidas) which we tied to the canoes. All we had in the boats were the paddles (which was kind of necessary) and two coolers full of all kinds of booze. Certainly, boating and boozing make for really good stories. What could have been an hour long canoe trip down the river took us three hours and two coolers.

All in all, it was a great trip. It was a month where I got paid to have fun (ok, so I worked a little). The Berkshires were a treat in itself, but the people I met will forever be remembered as the instruments to my eventual alcoholism.