Summer's Coming!!

It was close to 9pm when I walked home last night and it was STILL light out. Summer is coming! I yeay!

As summer approaches I begin to feel a restless spark, which eventually becomes a full on burning desire to go on vacation. This happens to me every year on the first day that the temperature rises above 80 degrees.

I really don't understand why I can't sit my ass here in NY, one of the greatest cities in the world, like normal people and be happy and satisfied. No, I always seem to want more.

Growing up I was poor so there were no elaborate vacations. What gave me the travel bug and spoiled me for life were a series of trips with my church which took place every couple of months. In the winter I went skiing and in the summer I stayed at cabins in the Pocono’s or spent the nights or weekends at someone’s house who had pools or beaches in their back yards. I was poor but I lived a rich life, which gave me a rich mentality for rich dreams. And although I still don't have the money to live out my rich dreams, a girl can surely try.

Although I’ve never had to spend this much, my spending limit for vacation (including flight and hotel) is usually $1000 and under; but this year I just can't spend that type of money. I’m trying to save so that I can live out another of my high life dreams, so my limit has to be $3-400. Amazingly you can find some great vacation packages in this budget, but the problem is that everyone is also trying to save so there is no one to travel with. Waaah!! And although I had a fantastic solo vacation in Puerto Rico last year, if I could I would rather travel with someone this year.

I have Edward, but his feet are buried and cemented so deeply in the sidewalks of New York that it takes a lot of energy and a jack hammer to get him out. I just don’t have the patience for that type of reluctance. We both hate flying (HATE IT!!), but he does not share my zeal for exploring the unknown. My zeal is what propels me to take my shaky feet and put them on a plane.

Either way, vacation or staycation, I’m thrilled that summer is on its way!!

One of my favorite places to visit in the summer is the beach, but after I experienced beaches where you can see your feet in the water, I lost interest in NYC beaches. When I think of the beaches in New York the words, dirty and ghetto come to mind. I won’t even bother to share some of the things that I have seen wash ashore and right over my feet as I stood in the water.

I have heard that there are nice beaches in Long Island like Robert Moses, Fire Island and Montauk beaches, so maybe I’ll make my way to one of them this summer.

Central Park is also one of my favorite places to visit. I used to have at least two picnics in Sheep’s Meadow every summer, but I didn’t last summer. I don’t know why I fell off, but I am way overdue so there will be at least one picnic this year.

I’m really excited that New York will be implementing bike share stations. Because I don’t want to clutter my apartment with a bike, when I go bike riding I always rent one from those vendors outside of Central Park. It sounds like the bike share will be the more cost effective way to rent so I plan on taking full advantage. Great Hill, here I come… out of breath, shaky legs and all.

I love visiting with my homies, especially homies who live in far away places because it’s like going on a mini vacation. The best thing about this is that I have great friends who actually treat me like a guest so I never have to lift a finger. I plan to visit Chateau Quackenbush (which is the house of a friend of mine who lives in New Jersey. Not very far away, but mentally, I’m away) Visiting Chateau Quackenbush is like going on a spa vacation. Casa de la Torres is another up and coming friendly retreat which I also plan on visiting often.

We all know how much I love a restaurant and because of outdoor seating, I am looking forward to summer dining with my homies.

My birthday is in the winter so I live vicariously through friends with summer birthdays. Dais and Bea and Jude, make it a good one, okay? Because your birthdays are all about me… if you didn’t know, now you do.

I love street fairs, and wine tours, visits to Spa Castle and weekend getaways… Listing all of the things I love about the summer is just a way for me to talk myself into staying local and continuing to save my money. But because I’m so antsy, I may break down and book a tropical vacation… soon. I just can’t help myself.

What makes summer fun for you? Whatever it is, make it a great one!

~Louise C.

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