What does it mean to live in the city and love the outdoors? OutdoorFest's Sarah Knapp looks to extend her experience of "outdoor NYC" by moving to a new location, Rockaway Beach, Queens, for one month to find out how the outdoors and the urban combine   Follow the journey here.

30 Days in Rockaway - A preamble.

Yesterday was my last day being 26 years old. It was also my last day (for now) of living in Brooklyn. I spent this final day of year 26 packing, cleaning, and then moving my entire life to Rockaway Beach. For the next 30 days I would be living and working from NYC’s very own beach town

Yesterday, on my last day of my 26th year I packed up every drawer, closet and cupboard and swept, mopped, scrubbed and shined everything in the apartment so that it was cleaner then it had ever been since I’d moved in 7 years earlier.

Yesterday, on my last day of my 26th year I packed up my Brooklyn apartment and, with a backpack suitcase and tote, headed to the A train. Though it wasn’t yet rush hour – the train was far from empty and try as I might, I shuffled and bumped into more than a few unimpressed fellow subway riders. The A Train pulled up to the Howard Beach – JFK stop and the woman sitting next to me kindly pointed out that it was my turn to get off the train. I shook my head – I was staying on.

I got off at broad channel and switched to the S shuttle, which brought me to 96th street. I plopped down the stairs with my suitcase and headed to my new home – a room inside of a friend of a friends office with a futon, mini fridge and bathroom.

For the first month of my 27th year this would be my home base as I lived worked and explored NYC’s very own beach town: Rockaway. 

By Sarah L. Knapp