Islanders live in a seasonal cycle, a golden ring, if you will, that carries us from the extremes of summer frenzy to the extremes of winter isolation and back again.

You could say we’re on a never-ending carousel. We whiz past summer. Then we turn off our outdoor showers, watch the storefronts close up, and sigh as the days get shorter and shorter. We sleep longer hours, stay indoors and hang up our tools. Then we approach spring, and wait for the ospreys to come back, for the pinkletinks to sing, and for opening day at the Flying Horses.

The iconic Oak Bluffs carousel begins its 135th Vineyard season on Saturday. Built in 1876, the ride arrived from Coney Island in 1884. It is the oldest continuously operating platform carousel in the country.

“I’ll see the kids in the winter and they ask me when I’m going to wake up the horses,” said carousel manager Robin Meader, who is beginning her 32nd season in the role. She grew up on the Island, and her favorite carousel horse’s name is Moshup.

“He’s gray now, but when I was growing up he was solid black. He’s the biggest one on the carousel and he is my favorite,” she said.

Come have some popcorn, ride on a historic wooden horse, and hear the 1923 Wurlitzer Band Organ play. Take a moment to think of all the summer seasons past and future as you reach for the lucky golden ring.

The carousel opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Rides are $3.50 a ticket. A 10-ride pass is $30. Children will be offered free peanut butter eggs.