When my brother was in high school, our parents told him to get a summer job. My sister and I had held summer jobs to start saving for things we wanted and for college, so it was only natural that they would expect the same from him.
Brother saw things differently and introduced the concept of having a real summer. Rather than holding down a job, he would hang with the fellas, skateboard, go to the pool, stay up late doing fun stuff, sleep most of the day and do whatever he wanted. I don’t remember my parents going for this concept.
I appreciated the concept of a real summer and every year I find ways to balance work, because I enjoy all that my paycheck provides, and having my version of a real summer. Last year I used my vacation days to be off every Friday. I spent at least one day every weekend on a paddle board on the lake. Some weekends I went out all three days. There is nothing like having Friday lunch on an island.
This year I thought about how I would have a real summer and created a few goals:
1. Use my vacation days to have three day weekends from mid-August 2. Paddle, Paddle, Paddle 3. Make new paddle friends to increase opportunities for paddling 4. Time outdoors reading, preferably in the pool on the shady farm porch 5. Balance weekends between paddling and time on the farm with my parents and the horses 6. Time with friends outdoors, preference given to activities or locations that can include my dog 7. Watch Grease, Top Gun and Dirty Dancing at least once. 8. Dance around the house to the selections from the above soundtracks (link below.)
This is it, this is what I really, really want for my real summer. When I start to plan something I refer to my goals. If it does not feed my goals, I’m saying no. I have learned the hard way that doing something just because it could be fun, “good for me”, or is what I’ve always done, it takes me away from what I really want to bring into my life.
Real Summer Soundtrack to put on shuffle, turn it up LOUD and sing and dance your heart out!https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4L86SnNdRbNTNMwsg7Sic6?si=7ddb30794ff14839
The Yoga Cowgirl 
Sounds like a fun summer!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so.
LikeLike
After reading this post, I could feel the summer breeze wafting through my hair! Wishing you a REALLY great REAL summer!
LikeLike
Your summer plans are sizzling Sarah 😎💛🧡🙌 and this soundtrack reminds me of lots of summer memories from my past. Wonderful! Enjoy my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it does not feed my goals, I’m saying no.
Hear, hear. This is my takeaway from the last 15 months of pandemic living!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep! I intend to keep the lessons I learned. Over scheduling and rushing is a NO
LikeLiked by 2 people
First off – sounds like your brother was the youngest. This makes me laugh because that’s typical youngest child stuff. My sisters worked in high school and my parents didn’t make my ass get a job until I was 18 and I didn’t move out until I was 20. If it’s any consolation to the older siblings of the world, I feel this youngest child business sort of handicapped me and I didn’t actually grow up until approximately age 30. Even now I am being rather picky about job opportunitiesbas an unemployed person and not wanting to jump back into work. Ha. I know my big sister views me as a bit of a slouch and I don’t blame her. Although I am attempting to atone for this ny writing a few good HR articles that will help other people get jobs.
Secondly- I really admire this thing where you have converted your vacation time into long weekends, short “mini-vacations”. That’s highly creative, a good idea and it’s good that you have the flexibility to do that. Have you been with your current employer for a long time? Now I am curious what you do for a living. You don’t have to disclose if you don’t want to of course but I am now curious about your industry and length of service. It’s a wonderful benefit to earn the right to this kind of flexibility and I am sure that you earned it in some way, be it dependability or doing highly valuable work or both
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am a staff person at a university and in August I will celebrate 16 years. I acquire two days of vacation per month and I have to be below 75 hours by my anniversary date. I use little time during the year, so I save it for summers and riding trips.
Yes, he was the youngest. Yes, he is a Tom Sawyer/Peter Pan.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that’s sounds like a pretty good job. I’ve And go you on the 16 years! Yeah I don’t know why parents are so easy on the youngest.. it’s like they’re tired at that point or something. Ha. It does seem to be a trend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like how everybody else zoned in on the recreation and I became curious about the work. I am still an HR person…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I neared my 70th birthday (now a few years ago), I told someone, “I’m down to about twenty years now, give or take, and getting in shape, preserving the good health I have, and not wasting time on the stupid, the boring, or the irrelevant is right up there on top of my list. If I manage to avoid stupid, boring, and irrelevant, I’ll have plenty of time for what’s important.”
That’s true in every season, but it really works for summer!
(And by the way — a 75 year old’s summer playlist is somewhat different. I’d have more Beach Boys, that itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini, and of course — “Barefootin”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this! Read it while sitting on the porch in the evening breeze with my 78-year-old Dad. We will be riding the next two mornings and taking the side by side out to the other farm when it cools off. This is the stuff that matters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the Grease soundtrack but then I saw Loverboy listed from the Top Gun soundtrack, another one of the bands from my high school years.
Enjoy your time on the water. Looks like fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loverboy…the album with the red leather pants…yes, high school.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, those pants!!! Made my heart skip a beat 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your idea of using vacation days to have more three day weekends. Seems like a good balance, not having to jam everything into one two or three week vacation. Especially if you’re living right where you want to be for vacation, and don’t have far to travel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It gives me time to paddle and ride. I also have a couple of nearby, long weekend trips. I find it very relaxing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the ideas of writing down your goals for the summer! Too often I have things I want to do and then end up doing nothing or doing things that others intended and then I lose track of what I wanted to do so thinking of them in the form of goals is a great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person