I think it’s easy to be a little overwhelmed when the summer months roll around.

 I recall that during my childhood, summer vacation seemed like this endless adventure that inevitably led me outdoors, stalking sidewalks and city parks, places where I could seek adventure and thrills a plenty in the lush tumble of suburban jungle.  The day began early and ended late with the rosy sun sinking over the horizon.  Nights were spent watching movies and reading my favorite books.

As you get older, I don’t think those memories fade nor the expectation of new ones to come.  We tend to cling on to them with the small hope that maybe this season things will revert to that timeless past and let us kick our shoes off and ignore the trivial matters of adulthood.

Of course, we obviously can’t, right?  Those bills need to be paid, time sheets filled out, classes taught, cars fixed, what have you!  It’s maddening really.  Summer is for freedom, and you have anything but.

Well, I’ve got a little secret weapon here.  A few activities carefully assembled for the sake of alleviating this madness called life in keeping with the sacred mysteries of a childhood summer.  Care to take a look?

Now, before we get to the nitty gritty, let me stress that this list is not ranked in any particular order, nor does it represent the full majority of what the summer could offer.  Think of it as a starter kit, a short inspiration for your own particular strategies.

So without further ado, here’s our list:

1.  The Movies!

We all know of the formidable campaign of summer blockbusters, rolling through television and the Internet like an unstoppable juggernaut.  Some years it’s weak, some years it’s incredible.  Now, depending on your budget, you’ll want to settle on a “must see” list.  Then you’ll need to locate a suitable theater.  Here’s where I think you should deviate from your normal theater and find a place more unique.  Antique theaters exist most everywhere, and like a secret initiate you should find these lesser known places, dolled up in your best leisure clothes, and settle in for the feature of your choice.  Depending on the prices, maybe even score a few snacks for the film.  Bring friends!

2.  The Call of the Great Outdoors

This particular activity can take the form of almost anything so long as it is performed under the wide open sky and not in the dreary confines of a house or apartment.  Go to a park or arboretum.  Hit the local bike trail, or take up tennis.  Maybe you’re fortunate enough to know of some hiking trails or a place to rock climb.  The name of the game is get out there and experience it.  Vegetation should be involved to some degree.  Backyards count (especially if you have a slip n’ slide).

3.  Write an Old Friend

We never bother to sit down and keep up, or if we do, it takes the form of hastily written emails or short snippets of conversation over the phone.  Find someone you used to talk to a lot and write them a letter.  Heck, I won’t even tell anyone if you don’t mail it.  It doesn’t even have to be someone you know.  Pick someone out of the phone book.  ”Barry’s Auto-Repair and Locksmithery?”  Good enough!

4.  Brush off the Dust on your Ninja Uniform

We all have it lying around somewhere, probably in a closet or stuffed up in an attic.  We can also probably remember our deadly training at that secret dojo high in the misty mountains.  Time to do our sensei proud and breathe some life back into that faded jumpsuit.

5.  Put Together a Rock Band/Become Famous

This one’s a two-parter.  First of all, you need to discover some innate musical talent if you haven’t already.  Find a group of like-minded individual then hastily assemble in the garage of your choice.  Once you have hit the proper chord, immediately name your band and furnish yourselves with outrageous costumes and monickers.  Walk around in public knowing you’re the next big thing.  Long lines at the store?  Not for you!  Circumvent the “normies” and gladly sign any autographs they may want.  Next part, cash in on all of your royalties and buy the mansion of your choice.  What?  No song royalties yet?  Well, you can always snatch a lucrative corporate sponsor.  Flawless plan and good times.

6.  Conquer your Neighborhood! 

You know who were cool?  Vikings.  They pretty much terrorized all of the known world for several centuries.  Well, it’s time to do them proud.  But for the sake of modern sensibility, let’s keep the focus to something manageable – the local neighborhood.  Now, your neighbors may be pretty tough.  They may even own a trebuchet or two.  Don’t fret.  Start off by press-ganging the local squirrel population into a bloodthirsty warband.  Their knowledge of tree branches and rooftops will be helpful in setting up ambushes.  Supplement your forces with birds and insects of your choice.  Be wary of mercenaries.  Then proceed with the plundering!  Of course, don’t actually hurt anyone – because that’s simply not done anymore.

7.  Discover Time Travel

This one’s the holy grail of summer activities.  Figure it out and potentially you could have a “timeless” summer… or at least live out your natural life hopping from summer to summer or simply reliving the same one ad infinitum.  I hear that the actual discovery can be rather simple – falling off a toilet and drawing a graph of some kind.  I can’t personally say I’ve managed this one myself, but if anyone has give me a shout out during the summer of ’03.

8.  BBQ!

What’s summer without an awesome barbeque?  Fire up the old grill or find a friend or social group that has access to one and have at it!  These can often be mobile affairs, taking place at a local park or even the surface of the moon.  Encourage your friends to bring their favorite foods, and always have a vegetarian option.  A frisbee can make a BBQ a gloriously competitive affair.

9.  Fight off the Rise of the Zombies!

It’s going to happen someday, and there’s a decent chance that it’ll happen during the summer.  Don’t be caught off-guard!  The living dead can be crafty in their ability to continue to live after death.  Some can jump!  An effective way to combat these nefarious and ambulatory corpses is to form a protective squad with friends and neighbors.  Drill constantly on what exactly your plan will be in the case of a Zombie Apocalypse come early.  Learn useful skills like first-aid, CPR, and canning preserves.

10.  Send an Object into Orbit

Probably easiest around the 4th of July or if you happen to work for NASA, space is pretty big and empty so it stands to reason that it needs more stuff.  My recommendation: lawn gnomes.  They’re perfect.  Avoid using people, pets, or family members as I’m pretty sure that would be a federal crime.

11.  Secret 11th Activity

If all else fails, I’d definitely encourage you to continue to stop by and visit my site.  Maybe you’ll find just an ounce of inspiration.  :)