Hampton Bays people: Richard Steiber

I moved here in 1994 and I’ve been living here ever since.

I grew up in East Patchogue, but right before I moved to Hampton Bays, I was stationed in the Navy in Japan. I was there for 17 years.

When I left East Patchogue for the Navy, it was a nice, small town. When I came back, the place was unrecognizable — the population boomed and I didn’t like it. I came out here to raise my family instead.

It used to be a big summer resort area over here. In the summer the place still gets packed, especially by the bars, but it’s not the same.

There’s all sorts of stuff to do around here. There’s roller hockey and beaches. It’s nice that this is the type of place where you can let your kids go out into the street and play in the backyard without worrying. It’s good that they can be outdoors and enjoy it.

I mean, it’s expensive to live out here, but that’s just New York. You can’t get a hoagie and a soda for three dollars anywhere.

I’d call it a hometown. I mean, just look around! It’s a beautiful, friendly little village. It’s that type of community where people really help each other out.