Graduation Day for my youngest grandchild!  We've been to their last concert, their awards night and now the culmination...graduation.

It's the ending of one chapter but the beginning of a new, exciting chapter - college.

How many of you remember those halcyon days of youth when we thought we owned the world?  For me, as I think back about those days of education, rallies for women's rights and racial equality, against the Vietnam War, etc., I'm feeling contented that I had a very tiny part in those times but am more pleasantly surprised that I love where I am at this moment.  

Well, as we approach the unofficial beginning of summer, I read a very interesting article on Gretchen Rubin's Blog about summer.  She suggested that we think about summer in terms of themes, bucket lists and focus.  I got to thinking that her suggestions made a lot of sense.  It's away to bring a bit of specialness to summer.  

A friend of mine focused on visiting all the parks in their state.  Another friend focused on visiting theme parks.  And there were several summers when I focused on visiting all the lighthouses located on the east coast. (I did get to all of them except those in Florida!). So I decided to put together some ideas for you to consider.  

Festivals, Car Shows, Food Gatherings, etc.  Summer is a great time for these celebrations and a quick look at events in your area online or in a local newspaper will provide plenty.  Even little (and I do mean little) towns have festivals like Oglivie with their Corn On The Curb event.  Or the Blueberry Festival in New York.  And almost every place has at least one car show during the summer...I've been to several in several states from the east coast to the west.

Become a tourist in your own area and visit the next town, walk around the downtown area checking out the stores and eating at a local restaurant.  I wound up at a drugstore with a restaurant in a tiny town and had one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten.  It could be a city like Minneapolis or a small rural town like Killdeer...

Visit local attractions like museums either big city ones like the Museum of Natural History in New York City or little ones like the Train Museum in Duluth.  You can choose attractions that either cost money or are free. For instance an historic ship museum like Mystic Seaport Museum in Stonington or the unusual spillway in Upper Stillwater Dam in Utah.

Look for local trails.  I found a quilt barn trail in New York.  Many folks like to visit local hiking trails.  Maple syrup farms offer free trails to look at how they make syrup from tapping trees to boiling the liquid.  Local rangers will offer a variety of trails and events in parks.  There are wine trails with visits to several wineries.  Artists will offer art trails like pottery or weaving.  And most trailers are free...

Find a local park with a lake for swimming or fishing and a place for picnics...

Once I began looking at all the possibilities, quite frankly I was overwhelmed.  Other ideas you can consider:

    Learn something new
    Keep a journal to record your adventures
    Unplug from social media
    Take short vacations rather than long ones

    Have family/friend fun days with BBQ's and games

I think the idea is to do some thoughtful planning so summer doesn't just slip by and you haven't enjoyed it.  Take some time this weekend to see what you or your family would like to focus on this summer and then make some plans to just that.  But, make sure there is plenty of 'play time' in your summer schedule.  

Summer is a time to just be...a time to lay on the grass and watch the clouds, a time to slowly read a book, a time to visit with friends and a time to enjoy nature.

Have a great holiday weekend...

Talk with you next week...