When does summer begin? When I was a kid, it was when school let out, which was mid to late June. In college, that end of school timing moved to the middle of May. In astronomical terms, the start of summer can be defined very precisely: it begins on the summer solstice, which occurs on June 20 or 21, depending on the year. Yet, many view June 1 as the beginning of summer. Some would say it is Memorial Day in the US, as that seems to be the summer beach-time kick-off. In Florida, we started experiencing summer weather in early May. It feels like summer is here already!
But whenever summer begins, it is often a time of planning. Perhaps this is a leftover from school days and wanting to make the most of those no-school summer days. These days summer plans often include bucket list items, tackling a “to-be-read” (TBR) pile, planning adventures (travel or stay-cation), or creative projects.
I’m learning that summer in Florida is a unique time. Snowbirds have flown the coop. Summer-heat-avoiders get into their RVs to head to cooler climates. Clubs reduce their meeting schedules, as fewer folks are around. Summer gardening becomes a challenge as days heat up. Things slow down. Even my indoor Zumba class has gone on hiatus for the summer.
My first full summer in Florida, I worked on habit formation. Looking back at that habit tracking, I was about 50% effective! Other summers since I retired, I’ve created possibility lists, which included things I normally do like beach yoga, summer foods, and shelling walks. Last summer I took on a fun-for-me reading project (re-read all the JD Robb series); the previous summer was some in-depth reading on religion literacy and history (And I blogged about it – here’s one link about that). I’m debating what this summer’s big-reading area might be. Part of me says “finish the religion literacy – you’ve got 10+ books in that pile!”. Part of me wants to delve into learning more about Florida plants with on-line study. And still another part of me wants to say – no planning!
Can I do a summer without full-on planning? A summer without check-lists? I’ve got my cardio drumming (yeah, they continue all summer!), my crafting, my monthly full moon shelling and new moon tarot, my book clubs, beach yoga, and my monthly massage. I know there will be lunches planned from the garden club. There’s also supporting hubby’s knee replacement recovery (surgery next week). I do want to try for a kayaking day, a museum afternoon, and a day trip to a new beach. I am also hoping for an afternoon of summer cocktails in a friend’s pool or a ride out on someone’s boat.
Even though it seems like a check-list is started, maybe this summer will just be a summer of being and playing and taking it one day at a time. Can I do that?
What’s on your summer calendar?
Picture Credit: Pixabay (I’ve been lax in taking pictures lately!)
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Hi Pat, it’s great to read about your summer plans and life in Florida especially as we are on the other side of the world and have started the winter months. Good luck in ‘doing what you want to do’ and working things out. Thanks for joining us for #wboyc
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Debbie, I enjoy the #WBOYC posts but don’t often have one ready on topic. In fact, a better one on topic is posting today! Ah well, I like when I can link in!
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Hi Pat, so lovely to have you join us for #WBOYC? We are in Winter here now but where I live is very mild, but Summer can be hot. Enjoy your Summer and no planning – that would be a difficult challenge for me. x
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Sue, I’m thinking it’s impossible for me to not plan. What as I thinking?! Plan less perhaps is doable! And being flexible is a definite focus.
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I think we have a similar climate to you and we seem to go straight from a couple of months of mild and then cooler temps straight into October and summer again. Because Christmas falls in the middle of our summer, people tend to go south in Jan, Feb, March to avoid the humidity. Next year we’ll be spending all of March in the UK in search of cooler weather.
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Jo, Its always fascinating for me to hear about life in your country, especially when there’s similarities! We tend to think about our small space, but the US, like Australia is huge… and even in my own country, this “heat avoidance” is unique to where I now live. So it’s new to me.
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While I know the official start of summer is June 20-21, I’ve always felt like it started Memorial Day weekend. Summer tends to feel more relaxed to me in terms of planning…perhaps a holdover from school days. I hope you enjoy your day-by-day approach to summer, doing what feels enjoyable in the moment. And good luck to you and hubby with the knee replacement!
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Christie, For hubby, it’s the pain and recovery challenge. For me, it’s picking up all the household chores/tasks he does! I’ve been thinking about it and my “do what feels enjoyable” is not totally feasible all day, everyday! I will rise to the challenge… and might even get to meet some more neighbors as I take on dog-walking daily!
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Summer was always when school ended be it grade school or University. I’m currently sitting in the mountains at 5000f elevation and 32F so hardly what most recognize as summer.
We never had kids so we rarely requested summer vacation at work-we left it for parents. April/Oct were our months plus everywhere we went wasn’t kid-infested 😉 IE: I took hubster to Disneyland for his first time back in 1992. We walked right onto rides. I mean, full out adult JOY right there!!!
Now nearly 5y retired, I focus on each day to be enjoyable and for gratitude that I’m here to see it whether its below zero or 110F. (I do love our deep seasons).
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Elle, another similarity… we also used to travel/vacation in April/May or late Sept/October! Back then summer was just work and some daylight when done working…as opposed to winter when I came home in the dark.
But I am definitely trying to take things one day at a time … even if we’re already into the mid-90’s during the day (in May!). As hubby said, that’s why we have AC. And I love looking out at the sunny blue sky.
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Hi Pat, May has been brutal and I have already suffered an episode of heat exhaustion. So…top of my list is to pay better attention to hydration. We will be away in July and again in September, so there isn’t much to plan on the homefront this summer. I will tackle my reading list, pick up another Mahjongg game, get back to water aerobics, and maybe organize a closet or two. Beyond that, I will just let things happen. After the heat and humidity of May, I can’t imagine what June will feel like. Take care.
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Suzanne, I’m also a little concerned with “real summer” as we are already experiencing August weather in May! Plus all the predictions for an “active” hurricane season. Still, we moved to Florida, and I adore the sunny days & blue skies, even if I’m looking at it from inside with the AC on! I’m definitely adding in reading more this summer. Enjoy your trips away … to cooler temps I hope!
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I usually think of June 1st as the start of summer, but our summer weather often doesn’t really kick in until later in July… but it lasts until early October. I hope you find time to relax and enjoy the season. It may be hot but I imagine the roads and beaches are much less crowded.
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Janis, Interestingly, last summer we had higher than normal tourism so things were not as quiet as it used to be. Certainly less than snowbird season or spring break. It’s still feels odd for me to be living in a place that most people vacation to!
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The problem with our part of northern Florida is that we’re at one of the two main entry-point arteries (I-95 for us), so the summer highway traffic gets worse with tourists especially going southbound. When we lived in the central part of the state (Vero Beach), we really did see the place clear out starting in June. Good luck to hubby with his surgery! – Marty
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Thanks Marty. With the surgery, as with my summer plans, gonna take it one day at a time. He’s not one to like a hovering caregiver, but I do need to pick up all the chores he normally does around the house. He jokes that I’ll meet more of our neighbors finally as I take on the dog-walking…we’ve lived here for 3 years now and I really do not know many neighbors. Of course, with the heat and lots more folks leaving to go north, I still might not meet many!
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Hi Pat, thanks for this nudge to actually think about my summer plans! I like your idea from previous years to make a ‘Possibilities’ list, this way I can look at it each week and decide if I want to do any of those activities. It gets pretty hot & humid during the summer here in Myrtle so my list will be mostly indoor ideas and I’ll get the chance to do more things when my niece visits in late July.
I appreciate that you’re a list person but it sounds like you’ve left yourself enough room to be flexible and open to spur of the moment ideas! Enjoy your summer 🌞
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I am absolutely a list person! And even though I said no plan, I made a list after this blog posted. What’s kinda nice, is I mentioned I wanted to go out on a boat this summer (we do not own one) as part of my summer possibilities and an acquaintance has already reached out to plan a boating day trip! Talk about the Universe providing! OK, I was talking about it to a group of folks at a gathering as I mentioned my summer wish plans…but still. You’ll need to post your list ideas for indoors when it’s hot and humid… we are already there!
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Hi Pat! I don’t have a lengthy list but here are some ideas I’ve come up with so far:
Get a facial and/or massage
Go to a local or not so local museum
Go to the movies
Go shopping in a new-to-me store or town
Try a new-to-me restaurant
Schedule a ‘spa day’ at a local hotel/resort
Go bowling
Check out public events at local Convention Center
Go to the library or a book store to read
Walk thru model homes for decorating ideas
I hope this sparks some ideas for you 😃
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A great summer list! And lots of indoor ideas for those super hot days we are expecting.
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My memories of being in FL during the summer are: hot, Hot, HOT! You sound like you have a few things planned and gave yourself some wiggle room to do whatever. My summer plans are centered around practical activities like maintaining the house, organizing files, maybe buying a new car. Having written this here I realize I need to add some outright FUN into my summer plans. I sound like a drip.
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Ally, Well, buying a new car can certainly be fun… not the buying part, but having a new car. Of course, my new car last summer was my Jeep…and I have fun every time I drive it! :-).
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My plans for summer are just to enjoy walks out in nature, whether local or at times a little further afield. I just go.with the flow in between work with whatever I feel like doing.
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Love that. Learning what I want to do, really truly, is my summer goal so I too can do “whatever I feel like doing” and knowing it’s true to myself!
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Hi Pat – it sounds like you already have plenty on your Summer calendar and a little room for some spontaneity too. I think it’s good to not over-plan and to have room to go with the flow when it suits you and to have space for new interests to slot in. We’re in a lovely Autumn period atm after a very long, hot, dry Summer, so I’m enjoying every moment of the cooler mornings and evenings before the wet weather kicks in.
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Leanne, Some cooler temps will be a long time coming here. We are experiencing higher than normal temperatures and drought conditions. My summer plans might need to shift, but I’m going to be flexible with that! It’s funny that after saying no plan, I’ve got quite a set of plans started…but all things i want to do!
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