When I am at home in Westport, Conn., it would never occur to me to notice the direction the wind is blowing. Period. However, on LBI, the direction of the wind is crucial, often determining the type of day it will be.

Everyone has flags down here, so one of the first activities we do upon rising in the morning is check to see which way the flags are blowing, a trustworthy indicator of the direction of the wind. If there is a west wind, which means the flags are blowing toward the ocean, you will see all the surfers heading up to the beach.

Upon arriving there, the sight of the endless expanse of Atlantic Ocean will almost knock the wind right out of you –…