Ways to Make Summer Feel Like Summer
I’m sure I’m not the only one who believed back in March that we’d be back to much more normal circumstances by now. Call me optimistic, call me naive, I just couldn’t have pictured things would still be this bad five months later.
This summer has been far from what I pictured it to be, but there’s still ways to make the most of it. Below are some suggestions I’ve compiled that have made it feel a little more normal, despite the weirdness when I remember I’m wearing a mask and keeping social distance.
This week I went to the beach for the first time in ages. Here in California our beaches have been closed for the majority of the Safer at Home orders that are taking place in our state. When they reopened I was hesitant to go because I was nervous of how packed they would be and despite the fact that face masks are required while on the beach, I found it unlikely everyone would be following those rules. My roommate and I decided to give it a try and drove out to Malibu in the late afternoon. While it was definitely crowded, I felt safe as people kept a good amount of distance from one another.
We decided it was best not to lay out and instead walk along the water. It felt so good to dip my toes in, I didn’t realize how much I needed it. Jumping around in the waves, kicking my feet in the water, it had me feeling like a kid, and on top of that I completely forgot I was wearing my mask until I looked at the photo my roommate took of me.
My suggestions would be, don’t go to a beach that's known for crowds, do some research so you can find ones where you feel comfortable laying out. Some families even set up tents instead of the usual umbrellas, which I thought was smart.
Something that has become much more of a trend this summer has been Drive-In movies. With Movie Theaters closed, this makes so much sense.
When I lived in Santa Barbara, there was a Drive-In Theater right next to campus that my friends and I would love going to. They would do double features of the same films that were playing at the Theaters, and it was way cheaper. On top of that we were able to bring in our own snacks and fill our cars with pillows and blankets to be nice and comfy.
Here in Los Angeles, most of the official Drive-Ins are a bit of a drive from where I am and the pop up ones that were being put together for the summer were sold out. I didn’t think I’d get to make it to the Drive-In this summer, until I found out I won tickets to the one being held at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. What was interesting was that the film started at 1:30pm, so I had no idea how the screen was going to work as I’d only been to Drive-Ins in the evening. It ended up not being an issue because the screen they used was similar to those they used at concerts.
I also really appreciated how much safety was a priority. Everyone was required to stay in their vehicle unless they needed to go use the restrooms or pick up concessions. Concessions were available to order through a site and then you’d receive a text once it was ready, after which you would head over to the designated area to pick up your food, while wearing a mask of course.
My final piece of advice is to just go on a picnic. It can be with your friends while keeping a social distance, with members of your household, or just on your own to have some alone time. I’ve done this a few times now and it’s a simple way to change up your routine and get out of the house. I personally prefer to bring my own meal from home since one of my goals for this year was to eat out less, something staying at home has actually helped me improve upon. I pack a backpack with a blanket, water, and my meal which I keep in my thermos from S’well. When I go by myself I also like to bring a book to read so I have something else to do besides watch TikToks.
The times that I’ve done this with friends have also just given my day a huge boost of positivity. While I try to stay in touch with group chats and zoom calls, it can feel a tad draining at times, so being able to actually see others face to face, even when those faces are covered by a mask, has been really nice.
We still have a month left of summer, even though it feels like we never left March, so I hope this ideas will inspire you to have some fun this summer, while also being responsible of course.
