Summer Is Here: I Kind of Hate It

The most disappointing part of being an adult is losing the joy of summer.

When I was a kid, a typical summer day involved sleeping until 11 (I'm not disclosing whether this was a.m. or p.m), picking blackberries in the yard, riding my bike somewhere I wasn't supposed to go, and then coming home to eat an entire tub of ice cream.

Now, my typical summer day involves waking up early to take a long trip to work, getting scolded for putting the wrong cover sheet on my TPS report when I get there, then taking a hot train ride home. On a good night, maybe there will be something interesting on tv after I collapse on the couch.

I kinda miss the old days.

Summer had such unlimited potential as a kid.  Every day promised endless opportunities for new adventures (assuming I woke up when it was still daylight outside).  Play basketball? Go fishing? Is today feeling more like a bike or skateboard kind of day?  Or maybe just wander the neighborhood and see what happens?

There were no bills to pay, no commute to work, and no battles to fight against the company trying to overcharge me or deny my prescription.

I longed for the day when I could drive and make money and no longer be dependent on my folks, but I didn't realize how good I had it. Driving means trips to the DMV, making money means having a boss, and being an adult means responsibility.

I could use a summer break from adulting.

In 2017, I spent all summer in rehab for a broken knee and studying for the California Bar Exam, in what was quite possibly the worst three months of my life.  When summer 2018 came, I vowed I was going to have enough fun to make up for lost time.

There just wasn't much fun to be had.

Other than a wonderful trip to Prague, what I remember about last summer was that it was really hit, work was busy, and after July 4th, there was absolutely nothing interesting happening until fall.  All the good mindless action movies now come out in the spring and avoid the summer heat too.

The idea of a lighthearted fun summer doesn't seem to exist in the adult world, except maybe for teachers who get the summer off.  Most of us get maybe one week's vacation, and otherwise life is the same as always except it's hot outside, there are reruns on tv, and nothing meaningful  happening.

Summer as a kid meant having more fun.  Summer as an adult just means it hotter outside when you have to wear your work clothes.

I don't mean to complain, at least too much.  I really had a great June.  San Francisco is one of the best places on earth to be in the summertime (outside of the occasional meth addict yelling at you). I have an amazing trip to Europe coming up, the Warriors finally lost, and the Blues finally won, and the weather is still nice out here.

But I know that won't last forever.  So while I still can, I'll grill out when its cool, I'll take a trip to Europe, and then I'll take some time off from this blog to sit by the fountain in my courtyard with a cool drink.

I'll do whatever I can do to create some summer fun, and I'll do my best to enjoy what life brings.

But it will never be the same as when I was a kid.