In a nod to our Pursuit of Happiness collection, Fair Harbor Team members reveal the creative ways they find their own bliss. 

There are as many ways to cultivate joy as there are to experience it. Our latest Pursuit of Happiness collection celebrates this ongoing quest for good times and broad smiles, no matter where or how you find them. Inspired by the upbeat attitudes of our Fair Harbor crew, we asked them to share how they nurture their own happiness. These are their stories.

What activity brings you joy? 

Gardening!

Tell us more about it.

For the last month, I've set aside time on the weekends to clean up the garden behind my apartment and prep the planters with fresh soil. Unfortunately, I got a little over-excited and planted some flowers before the weather was really ready, but they look like they're holding up ok.

How did you discover it? 

After almost a decade of living in New York, I've finally moved into an apartment with a small backyard. The previous tenants left their planters behind, which gave me a nice head start. The planters are almost full now, so I'll be buying more soon.

Why does it make you happy? 

I love a challenge, so deciding on the layout and plant selection for my garden has been a really fun puzzle. My goal is to give the plants what they need to be happy (sunlight, spacing, etc.) while also having the shapes, colors, and textures that make me happy. I'm especially into the small herb garden I just planted, which I'll snip from as I cook throughout the summer. I'm hoping to bring lots of home-grown tomatoes to the Fair Harbor office when I harvest my garden.

What activity brings you joy? 

Sailing! Both competitively and for fun.

Tell us more about it.

I sail on any body of water, as long as there's wind. I mostly get out between April and October as much as possible, which probably equates to three or four days per month on average. I'll sail a bit more in peak summer months, and in the late fall or winter, I'll sail every so often but not frequently.

How did you discover it? 

Growing up in the coastal town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, sailing was just something you did. A good family friend of mine was a world-class sailor and got me into it from a young age. I was hooked early on and what started out as a summer activity turned into a lifelong passion.

Why does it make you happy? 

I love competing, but I also love being outdoors and on the water. There's an undeniable connection to the water and the wind, and you and your crew need to be fully in sync with the elements. You're nothing without the breeze that moves you, and at the same time, you're at the mercy of the weather and the waves. Being so in touch with your surroundings and relying only on the power of nature and your ability to harness it is both satisfying and exhilarating. Enjoying it with great friends in beautiful places only enhances the experience.

What activity brings you joy?

Bridal illustration

Tell us more about it.

I work on my dining room table every weekend! I draft it out in pencil first and then use very basic paper, Chartpak markers, colored pencil, and White Out pen. It takes about an hour and a half from start to finish, and I usually work on two or three per week. 

How did you discover it? 

I started drawing prom dresses in high school for fun building my portfolio for college, which evolved into wedding dresses as I got older. In 2017, a friend asked me to draw her friend to give as a gift at a wedding and I haven't stopped since! It blew up on social media, and suddenly I had people contacting me with requests. I incorporated my artwork into my own wedding invitation and shared the process on TikTok. Eventually, it got 12 million views, and it was even featured in Newsweek magazine. 

Why does it make you happy? 

The process is very therapeutic for me because my technique involves lots of random elements. I just sit there for hours working on it as I listen to Kygo Radio. I look at the reference image and just zone out, focusing on recreating the image. And I feel really satisfied when I'm done. 

It also makes me happy to bring joy to others by creating special ways to remember life's milestones. Especially moments that aren't photographed. I have made memorials honoring people who passed away. There was one I drew a few months ago where the bride's mom passed away a few years before she got married, and her friend commissioned a drawing of the mother and daughter together on her wedding day. It's like creating a new way to share memories. 

What is an activity that brings you joy?

Surfing

Tell us more about it.

Two years after moving to New York, I realized that the waves were pretty good here. Now, I live in Rockaway, so it's much easier to get to, and I can go out when I want to, so I surf as often as I can in all kinds of weather. Cold. Wind. Snow. As long as the waves are good, I'm out there!

How did you discover it?

I grew up In Manhattan Beach, California, and when I was younger, surfing wasn't a huge part of the culture. My friend's older brother did it, and I thought that was really cool. I was around 11 years old and found two other friends my age to surf with. Now if you go to the area you'll see 50-60 kids in the water, but then it was just us. It felt really special to us because not a lot of kids were doing it in our area back then.

Why does it make you happy? 

When I was younger, it was a deep passion. I loved it so much that it was all I thought about. For the last seven years, when I go to the beach and surf, I don't have to think about anything. Everything is pure instinct: waxing my surfboard, reading the waves, paddling out, sitting on my board. Because of that, it's almost a meditative state because I'm just reacting. I feel super comfortable because it's effortless. Even when the waves are big, and it's super demanding, that's fun. I probably get as excited now for a good wave as I did when I was 12, which is pretty cool. And I'm excited to share it with my son, Wolfgang, one day. I'm going to teach him how to surf as soon as he can swim. He's only three months now, but he'll probably catch his first wave before he's one.