Why do so many people love summer?

Is it because sunshine is good for our health? Is it because of all the great outdoor recreational opportunities you can’t do in the winter? Is it because we long for the days before we were adults, and when school was out, we could do whatever we wanted?

Maybe it’s all of the above, and then some.

I don’t know that I can say I have a favorite summer; summer as a child was full of family, fun and leisure; summer as a young adult was about exploration and freedom, and summer later on in life has been just different, as I now have kids and have to balance making things fun for them, and working, and taking vacations. In recent years, I felt like I was working too hard leading up to a vacation, and working too hard after the vacation. I have a feeling I will like retired summers better.

This year, I am going to come up with some summer resolutions. Like New Year’s resolutions, but I intend to keep them.

This summer, I will finally catch crabs. I have traps, strings, a net, and some frozen chicken necks. I’ve been trying to catch them at Jonas Green Park. We’ll see if I’m finally successful this year!

This summer, I will avoid working when the family goes on vacation. It’s hard to promise that because I work for a much smaller organization now, whose only employee is me. But I started planning for this about a month ago, so I don’t feel like I am rushing as I come up with the plan for how everything will be handled in my absence.

This summer, I will try to swim in more than one ocean. The last time I did that, it was 2001.

This summer, I will do my best to stay hydrated, I will conserve water, and I will seek to serve others who may need water. This one is difficult, because I work from home, so I won’t be as exposed to people who need water in my daily routine.

This summer, I will make sure my kids love summer as much as I loved it when I was a kid. I realize I can’t give them the same kind of summer that I had, because I’m working from home, and they have lots of camps and other activities scheduled. But I’m sure they’ll find something to love about it, besides the lack of school.

What will you do this summer? Maybe you’ll get some ideas about possible adventures in this issue. We’ve got articles about exploring Calvert County’s ​​Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary, tasting artisan Mexican ice pops, making raspberry fool, playing disc golf or backyard bocce, exploring Crisfield on the Eastern Shore, hiking the Appalachian Trail and other outdoor endeavors, and of course an item about how to prevent and treat skin problems like sunburn, insect bites and poison ivy.

Will this be the summer I stop using this column to ask readers to consider subscribing? Well, that’s up to you! I’ve set it up so you can name your own price when you subscribe. Right now, most people pay the suggested price of $24.95 (plus $1.50 sales tax in Maryland); some pay more, some pay less. If a few thousand of you do this, I probably can skip asking for a while!

In the meantime, please enjoy your summer.

Be well!

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