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We tried to warn you. Summer is coming, and you've got to get ready, we said. Save up some money and make some travel plans and get a pitcher of iced coffee going, we said. But did you listen? Well, maybe. If not, though, we understand. It can happen so easily: suddenly the weather warms up, the days get longer, and you find you've got no real game plan or resources to take advantage of it.
Have no fear! Even if you don't have to take a big trip or have a magically choreographed romance or a plan for the perfect Fourth of July party to make summer special, you can still have a great time. Here are a few suggestions for small things you can do to take advantage of the coming balmy months.
Read a Whole Book Outside. If you live by the beach, maybe you can make it a goal to read a whole book at the beach, or at a lake or in a park, or your yard, or wherever. Bonus points if you can do at least part of that reading in a hammock, but just taking some time outside with a solid summer read will do you a world of good. Where to find a solid summer read? Right here.
Trade in beer for summer cocktails. We would never ask you to give up beer entirely, but maybe make a point to drink a Pimm's cup instead of Miller on your summer Fridays (should you be so lucky as to have them) or have a party dedicated to French garden drinks. Right now is the time of year every newspaper on earth, especially The New York Times, is running summer drink recipes, so there are a million ideas out there.