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Will this be the Summer of Our Discontent?

June 27th, 2022 by Kenneth Abrahams

Summer 2022 was supposed to be our bounce back Summer. After pretty much losing all of 2020 to COVID and 2021 still being far from “normal” amid fears of a spike or new variant, 2022 was going to be an awesome summer. Restaurants were back to full swing, offering full capacity dining, both indoors and out. Beaches were open with no restrictions. Most locales have dropped mask mandates with large sections of the population being vaccinated. People have, for the most part, made peace with COVID, either deciding that it is over or that it is at a level that it will likely stay at for the foreseeable future. In Boston, it looked like the Celtics were poised to raise another championship flag to the TD Garden rafters and after a slow start the Red Sox are promising to make it an interesting summer for baseball fans. For many, after the last two summers spent at home, this was the year where those vacations that had been shelved were going to be dusted off and finally taken.

Then along came the war in Ukraine and inflation running out of control. As gas prices have soared, so has the cost of almost everything else. Yes, it seems petty to talk about yet another summer being stolen as some people are struggling to pay essential bills and put food on their tables. Regardless of your financial situation or where you live, this is not the summer you more than likely expected. Now, we are also being forewarned of 2 additional, highly contagious and antibody resistant COVID variations. With a barrage of information being discussed on the news or taking up valuable column inches in newspapers and magazines, it is clear that with all the stress people are under and the huge increase in reported cases of mental health issues, summer of 2022 needs to be a good one. People need a break.

We have two ways that we can go on this, look at the situation we are in, and either be miserable or figure out a way to make this a great summer despite the challenges and roadblocks. It seems more productive to try and make this the best summer possible and there are ways to do that without breaking the bank.

1. Get additional activities for your own house. You really don’t need a lot of space for a cornhole set or ladder golf. Some chalk and a cheap ball and you are set for a good game of four square. Challenge neighbors or friends to tournaments like Wiffleball or kickball. One of the great things about the internet is that there are blogs, videos, and articles on just about every subject. Even if you don’t have internet or computers at home, many libraries and community centers do, and you can often use them for free.
2. Take a hike, literally. Regardless of where you live, urban, suburban, or rural, get out in nature. It can be as simple as walking around your neighborhood or finding a local walking trail. Walking is great exercise, but it is also a wonderful way to meet your neighbors. During the height of COVID on our nightly walks with our dogs, we met so many of our neighbors, many that we had lived near for years and barely ever spoke to. Walking is a wonderful way to get your heart rate up, get some fresh air into your lungs and relieve some stress. If walking is not a high enough effort for you, get some ankle weights or go for a run. If you are walking in a neighborhood, look around, you will see some wonderful birds, trees, flowers, and you also get to see when houses go up for sale or people put those rare free gems out on the curb.
3. If it is free, it is for thee. There are so many free things offered these days, you simply need to do some digging. Many towns, through their Parks and Rec. Departments, offer free summer concert series. Places like the Apple Store often host free camps in their stores. Yes, more screen time for many adults and kids is not ideal but it is another way to get some free edutainment. Check local listings for free movies, nature walks, and of course, fireworks. Most are easily accessible by public transportation, walking, or a cheap Uber or Lyft ride. Lots of free things to do, especially during the summer, it just takes a little effort.
4. Become a Groupon aficionado. Groupon offers ridiculous deals on food and attractions. What I have found the secret to be is that you need to buy them right before you use them, that way you don’t risk forgetting about them or having them expire. I am a little torn on this one because the retailer doesn’t get lot of money from these and unless Groupon has changed their policies, retailers don’t even get paid unless the Groupon is used. Let’s be honest, no one is forcing the stores, restaurants, or attractions to list on Groupon so they must have more than monetary value to them. Still a great way to try something new and save some cash.
5. Read. Books are a great and a relatively inexpensive way to get hours of enjoyment. You can always grab a book at the library or go to a bookstore and check out some of the specials that they have. I have read some incredible books that cost me less than 5 bucks. Movies are very expensive but a 400–800-page book will keep you entertained and engaged for significantly more hours, for a fraction of the cost. Find a few people with similar tastes and swap books with them. Not only is it a cost saver, but it leads to some awesome discussions.
6. Go through all your old gift cards and gift certificates. Many of us have old gift cards that are about to expire for movies, food, and experiences. See what you have and redeem them or swap them with others. You would be amazed what you find buried in your sock drawer.

There are many things that I am sure I have forgotten to mention or that I am simply unaware of, but this is more than enough to get you started. Regardless of how you spend the next few months, please try, and have some fun. Make sure to take some time to de-stress and relax. Wishing you all warm days and starry meteor filled nights. Have a great summer!

About the author

Ken Abrahams is not great at relaxing, but he does manage to take time to do a little golfing, a lot of walking and a fair amount of reading. He has been to 48 of the 50 states. Due to a number of COVID cancelled trips he has enough air credits to take a few trips this summer.

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