Since I teach high school, summer is a real off season for me.
I grow my own vegetables, do lots of landscape projects with my husband, stand up paddleboard, run and hike with the dogs, and read. Usually I have some sort of reading goal.....this summer it is to read all of Daphne du Maurier’s novels and short stories. I’ve read about seven so far. Last summer, I read everything I could about North Korea. The summer before, all the Icelandic Sagas and a bunch of novels by Icelandic authors.
I maintain my boxing/MMA class regimen that I do throughout the year.
We have a new puppy, Domino, who will need some extra attention and acclimation.
This summer, I’m researching my family tree, so there’s a few trips to some small PA towns’ historical societies to solve some mysteries.
I also volunteer at the organic farm down the road. I’m partial to the animals....goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens. I love getting dirty and I don’t mind animal poop.
We take a couple week vacation....this year, we are returning to South Portland, Maine for 3 weeks. It’s a good place to take the dogs, SUP, swim, ride bikes, and visit breweries/distilleries.
I also sail with my brother. He has a 29.5’ Hunter moored in Noank, CT, and we usually do a week-long trip out to Block Island. Sailing is awesome but I’m glad I don’t own my own boat. Twice we’ve sailed back from BI right before hurricanes (Irene and Sandy) and the boatyard preparations were laborious and intense. We’ve also sailed in fog and some pretty rough water, which is great adventure, but nerve-wracking. My husband usually only goes out for day sails with us on LI Sound and leaves the multi day sails to me and my brother, lol.
Otherwise, I enjoy a slower pace of being home and not having to rush off to school at 6:30AM. Last year I was recovering from breast cancer reconstruction surgery, so I’m thankful to have a more “normal” summer this year.
Working the “pooper pumper” after a sailing trip, lol: